Civil Society Groups Charge Tinubu to Restore People’s Confidence As Economic Hardship Lingers

Civil Society groups have tasked Governments at all levels to restore the confidence of people through interventions that will bring about quick economic recovery. This was made known at an interactive Town Hall meeting which was organised by The Youth Bureau (TYB) in collaboration with Civil Society Stakeholders at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja on Tuesday, 13th February, 2024.

The Town Hall meeting was called by stakeholders to discuss solutions on contemporary socio-economic conditions of our communities.

In his opening address, the convener, Razaq Olokoba, said
“It is guided by the principles that, a stable peaceful polity is a desideratum for economic growth and prosperity for all.

“The parlous state of our national economy is a product of decades of economic mis-governance, policy summersaults, abuse of office as well as unbridled corruption. This was further compounded by the crisis of global economic meltdown, occasioned by the Covid-19 lockdown.

He applauded the economic reforms initiatives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, recognizing the truism that all reforms like the ones the Federal Government is pursuing, come with a lot of sacrifices from citizens.

He said, “ It often comes with grave socio-economic dislocations which inevitably engenders lasting solutions to the socio-economic ailments bedevilling societies leading to sustainable growth and development.”

He noted with concern, the ferment of social restiveness across the gamut of the nation which malignant detractors and unpatriotic elements are striving to channel to heat up the polity and create social chaos particularly in major commercial cities like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano.

Participants expressed genuine patriotic fervour to overcome the present economic challenges, with deep conviction that there would be sunlight at the base of the tunnel.

The Forum called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to engage the civic space to firm up support base for extant policy reforms and, for effective delivery on set goals.

The following resolutions were reached at the end of the engagement.

“The Federal Government is hereby called upon to enter into strategic partnership with civil societies’ stakeholders to combat “Economic Saboteurs”.
All conscientious patriots should bond to protect our collective heritage, and immediate communities

“Lagos is the commercial nerve centre of the country, that is critical to the socio-economic viability, stability of not just Nigeria but the entire sub-continental region, we demand concerted efforts to ensure its seamless flow as a fast growing, global, mega-city.

“The National Orientation Agency should embark on a massive campaign against insatiable desire for foreign luxury products. The campaign must begin with government officials, politicians and elite. This is how to provide leadership towards stemming over-dollarization of the economy.”