Proposed Nationwide Protest: Group urges FG to return fuel subsidy
A pressure group based in Gombe State, Initiative for Good Leadership and Development, has appealed to the Federal Government to urgently reverse the subsidy removal policy towards reducing the high cost of food items in the country.
Mr Tasi‘u Pantami, the group’s public relations officer made the appeal in a press statement issued to journalists in Gombe on Monday.
Pantami said since the removal of fuel subsidy, prices of food items had been increasing which had resulted to the hardship being experienced across the country.
He said that such hardship was responsible for the call for a national peaceful protest, which the group feared may be hijacked by unpatriotic persons.
“We are passionately appealing to the Federal Government to urgently address the current hardship bedevilling the country.
“We are deeply concerned with the fact that the country is going through trying moments which sequel the call for national protest to demand for immediate intervention by the Government to alleviate the suffering of the people.
“The removal of fuel subsidy has occasioned significant rise in the cost of living, placing unbearable burden on the average Nigerian who has to daily eke out a living.
“In this regard, we wish to implore the government to without any delay consider bringing down the price of fuel to the level before the removal of subsidy.
“Electricity tariff to return to free banding era, strengthen the purchasing power of the Naira and reduce the cost of governance through slashing the salaries and bogus allowances of the elected and appointed politicians while adjusting the salaries and allowances of workers to enhance productivity.”
Pantami while urging the Federal Government to initiate dialogue with those canvassing for the protest, the group also appealed for adequate equipping of security forces to effectively tackle the security crises in the country.
