OGBOMOṢO/ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC) has written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu.
The letter, which was signed by the NBC President, Rev Dr Israel Akanji, proffered ways forward of the current crisis rocking the country.
In the letter, Reverend Akanji urged the government to accept the reality of the hardship in the country and come up with way forward.
“The three tiers of the government have to accept and acknowledge the fact that there is hardship in the land and come up with realistic ways of leading the nation out of the problems at such a time as this,” the statement said.
“Government should be clearly seen to be appealing to the people of our country for more patience as they work assiduously to engage and ameliorate the hardship in the land. The current palliatives being released can be likened to only a drop in the mighty ocean of our problems.”
NBC’s statement further urged the government to address the security situation facing the country with a view to returning farmers to farms.
“Government should further address the security situation in the country with a view to returning farmers to their farms in order to curb food insecurity in the country.”
“Government at all levels should mobilise our teeming youths with incentives to make farming attractive before the rainy season ceases. They should also assist directly in bringing back the culture of storing farm produce in the silos nationwide.”
The government was also urged to create employment opportunities for youths of the country.
“Government should create employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for the teaming, intelligent and energetic youths of our country.” the statement said.
The statement also noted that the government should bring tax holiday and other incentives to the industrial and business sectors, “particularly in order to bring back all small and big industries that have left the country. This will generate massive employment.”
The government was also urged to revisit fuel subsidy removal by significantly reducing current price of all fuel products in the country.
Other recommendations are that the lifestyles of political office holders should reflect “the reality on ground in the nation in the areas of emoluments and benefits.”
The statement also urged the government to speak to the people and address concerns of the populace.
The #Endbadgovernance protest commenced on Thursday, 1 August 2024, in different locations of the country , it is is scheduled to end by August 10.
More than 14 people have been killed by security operatives, according to Amnesty International.
Nigeria is facing its worst economic crisis in decades, with skyrocketing inflation, a national currency in free-fall and millions of people struggling to buy food. Only two years ago Africa’s biggest economy, Nigeria is projected to drop to fourth place this year.
The pain is widespread. Unions strike to protest salaries of around $20 a month. People die in stampedes, desperate for free sacks of rice. Hospitals are overrun with women wracked by spasms from calcium deficiencies.
Although President Bola Tinubu increased the minimum wage — after strike action and months-long negotiations with labour unions — from N30,000 to N70,000, his government has increased spending for officials at a time of nationwide starvation.
For workers earning the new N70,000, or $43, per month minimum wage, capricious inflation and naira value have inflicted too much damage for the changes to make any difference in their lives.
The crisis is largely believed to be rooted in two major changes implemented by Mr Tinubu, elected 14 months ago: the partial removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the currency, which together have caused major price rises.
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