From Layi Olanrewaju, Ilorin
Stakeholders in Kwara State, yesterday, advised the Federal Government to review its economic policies considering economic hardship which average Nigerians are presently experiencing.
The people, who comprised of members of trade organisations, religious organisations, farmers’ groups, people with disabilities, security agencies and traditional institutions, among others, converged in Ilorin at a town hall meeting organised by the office of the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement (North Central), Mrs. Abiodun Essiet.
The occasion was also used to launch the Citizens’ Assembly, a group of volunteers, for the North Central region and the Listening Tour, to hear directly from people and allow them make input in the process of governance in order to bridge the communication gap.
One of the speakers at the event, Dr. Hamza Abdulraheem of the Jamatul Nasir Islam, commended some of the bold steps taken by the Tinubu administration to tackle economic challenges bedevilling the country.
He, however, called on the FG to review its economic policies, more so as people are pained and protesting.
To Mohammed Saleh Isiaq, the President did not prepare sufficient grounds for subsidy removal.
Mohammed, who said that the Nigerian economy revolves around oil, said that modular refineries, for instance, should have been established before the removal of the fuel subsidy.
“The Nigerian economy revolves around oil. The food crisis and growing insecurity have come from fuel subsidy removal. The policy is not too negative, but enough preparation was not made. So, modular refineries are the way out and that will make fuel more readily available.”
Others called for the repair of roads connecting Kwara State with neighbouring states, engagement and empowerment of youth, women and people with disabilities in productive ventures, as well as improvement on consultation with people before project implementation.
One of the traditional chiefs, the Emir of Ilorin, the Magaji Nda of Ilorin, Alhaji Saliu Woru Mohammed, said that everything is not political.
He called for better communication between the FG and the people, saying that people’s opinions should always be sampled rather than dumping projects on them for better relationships. He commended FG on LG autonomy.
In her speech, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement (North Central), Mrs. Abiodun Essiet, said that a gap in trust and communication between the Federal Government and local communities is caused by alleged unfulfilled promises by successive governments over the past 25 years since the return to democratic rule.
The president’s aide said that the present administration, through her office, initiated the Citizens Assembly for the North Central region and the Listening Tour, to hear directly from fellow citizens and allow them to make input in the process of governance in order to bridge the gap.
“The purpose of our meeting today is threefold: To listen, inform and collaborate. The Citizens’ Assembly was created to collectively tackle community problems and foster an inclusive society where every voice is heard. It offers structures across communities where residents can express their thoughts, share ideas, table pleas, and collaborate on lasting solutions to existing problems, while also planning proactively for future challenges.
The Citizens’ Assembly provides a tremendous opportunity for citizen engagement, dialogue, collaboration and peaceful resolution. It is committed to ensuring swift information dissemination, stakeholders’ engagement, project participation and continuous deliberations for meaningful outcomes.
