FG Moves to Avert Planned Protest, Address National Challenges
From Umar Dankano, Yola
The Federal Government has pledged to tackle the economic, political, and social challenges facing the country to improve the quality of life for Nigerians.
Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, announced this during a town hall meeting in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, over the weekend.
He emphasized that President Tinubu is fully aware of the situation and is working tirelessly to address these concerns.
Professor Mamman highlighted that President Bola Tinubu has made significant progress in his first year in office and assured that more achievements are on the horizon in the next three years.
He urged citizens to be patient and supportive of the administration to reap more benefits of democracy.
Mamman called on Nigerians, especially the youth, to cancel the planned national protest slated for August 1, 2024.
He pointed out the achievements of the current administration, including local government autonomy, increased student scholarships, a student loan scheme, and a N70,000 minimum wage.
The Minister appealed to Nigerians to maintain peace and avoid participating in the nationwide protest for the sake of peaceful coexistence and further democratic dividends.
The town hall meeting, attended by a wide array of Adamawa citizens including student unions, youth leaders, market women, people living with disabilities, and political and religious leaders—served as a platform for discussing critical national issues.
Various youth and women leaders expressed their frustrations over rising inflation, hunger, and poverty but thanked the federal government for initiating the dialogue, which they believe will help address the nation’s challenges.
They also urged citizens to avoid protests, highlighting the risk of such events being hijacked by enemies of the state, potentially causing massive unrest.
They called on the government to urgently implement reforms to alleviate poverty, inflation, and hunger, ensuring that ordinary Nigerians can enjoy the benefits of democracy and live stress-free lives.
During the meeting, Hon. Aliyu Wakili Boya, the federal lawmaker representing Fufore and Song Constituency, praised the government’s timely strategy of holding the town hall meeting for an open dialogue with the public.
He noted that this initiative is crucial in addressing the current economic situation and fostering renewed understanding between leaders and citizens. He urged people to resist the temptation to protest due to its susceptibility to being hijacked.
Dr. Mohammed Usman Degereji, representing higher education institutions in Adamawa State and Provost of the Federal College of Education (FCE) Yola, compared President Tinubu’s efforts to conducting a painful yet necessary surgery on the nation.
He stressed that while the process may be painful, the results will bring lasting happiness and peace.
Degereji called for sober reflection and dialogue, warning that protests could exacerbate Nigeria’s challenges, similar to what has happened in countries like Libya and Sudan, which continue to deal with the consequences of such actions for decades.
PRIME TIME NEWS Correspondent in Yola reports that the town hall meetings were held simultaneously across the 36 states of the Federation in response to calls for peaceful protests demanding good governance.
