Civil Society Organization on Community Advancement and Humanitarian Empowerment Initiative (CSCHEI ), on Friday, called on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, begin processes of reforms that would accelerate development for Nigerians to quickly begin to enjoy dividends of democracy.
The Director General of the organisation, Hon. Kunle Yussuf MON, stated this in a statement signed and made available to journalists, adding that the FG must avoid aggravating the masses into further agitation, which always has a propensity to lead to social anarchy.
Yussuf, while saying that the federal government should declare emergency on Basic Health and Agricultural sectors, he said “once food is affordable for Nigerians to feed their families and they have access to basic health care, the social apathy will decline drastically.”
He also tasked the Tinubu led-FG to review housing and retirement policies, saying “when you are sure that at your retirement age, you can have an affordable house to accommodate your family and functional pension scheme is in place, certainly this will further drag financial corruption to barest minimum.”
The statement added: “This administration must provide electricity and reaffirm hope for self employed Nigerians. Electricity, Fuel, and Diesel are the immediate commodities that bind Nigerian masses together. Once there is energy sufficiency at reasonable rates for artisans to deploy their skills into productive activities, there will be drastic reduction in pressure on social faultlines.
“The communications desk and community engagements unit in Mr President’s office should upscale performance on their duties and adopt work synergy among MDAs, and the appointees, to avoid administrative arrogance and conflict that may hinder the acceleration of eight point Agenda of this administration.”
Similarly, CSCHEI appealed to Nigerians to embrace process reforms but not commotion protest, explaining that Nigeria’s economic stability is not resilient to withstand national strikes or prolonged public protest.
He said: “It’s on this note that CSCHEI appeal to leadership of CSOs, CBOs, NGOs, Youths, Students and all other critical stakeholders to embrace negotiations and give the government more chance for most of their intervention to mature.
“Meanwhile, it is imperative that government escalate actions with appropriate quantum of intervention in order to diffuse the social faultlines to avoid aggravating the masses into further agitation which always has a propensity to lead to social anarchy.
“We also want to use this opportunity to appeal to the State Governors and Local Government Council Authorities to always give accurate information for the masses to know the interventions coming from Federal Government. At this point in time appropriate dissemination of information is necessary.
“CSCHEI has set up a committee to wing into action on public enlightenment, advocacy against extremism and radicalisation and friendly community engagement with the community leaders, religious leaders, civil society organizations, community based organizations to reduce the atmosphere of tension in the land.
“In addition, we also understand that National Development is a collective responsibility where everybody is a concrete stakeholder. Therefore, patriotism should be adopted at all levels of leadership – both community and religious. Again, the Director General has directed that at least 20 CSOs, NGOs and CBOs in each State capital to start social engagement on emotional intelligence to moderate the sensibilities of people and sensitivity to the issues at stake.”