By Abuja Reporter
The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) on Wednesday distanced itself from the planned nationwide protest and called for dialogue between President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians.
Mr Blessing Akinlosotu, the Executive Director of the council, said this at a news conference in Abuja.
NCSCN is the umbrella body of no fewer than 500 civil societies in Nigeria.
Akinlosotu said that it had become pertinent for the president to openly and directly engage citizens ahead of the protest to understand their plights and disclose the challenges of government and the efforts to end all forms of hardship.
“We, as the conscience of the masses and watchdog of the society, fully understand and share the frustrations and pain caused by the high cost of living, biting hunger, insecurity, joblessness, and other challenges in the country.
“We recognise that these conditions have contributed to the feelings of desperation and anger amongst many of us and we are aware of the constitutional rights to peaceful protest as a means of expressing misgivings and pressing home our demands.
“Nigerians have the right to peaceful protests, with a definite face and well-guided structure.
“However we believe that through constructive dialogue and collaboration, we can achieve lasting changes in no distant time, “he said.
Akinlosotu called on all CSOs in the country to distance themselves from participating in the planned protest while the leadership of the council continued to seek direct engagement with the proponents of the protest and the government.
He urged Nigerians to understand that the outcome of agitations in a precarious situation was unpredictable and may inflict more suffering on fellow Nigerians.
He appealed to the masses to shun the planned protest and await the government’s solutions to all concerns, adding that the protest would only cause violence and worsen situations, leading to uncontrollable destruction of vital infrastructure.
“We urge all those planning to protest to consider the broader implications and potential dangers and losses of their actions on our collective peace, stability, and development.
“We are confident that the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has listening ears and is committed to improving the living conditions of every Nigerian, “he said.
Mr Uzor Ifeanyi, the South-East Representative of the council, said that governments should not continue to work in silos without directly involving the CSOs and the citizens.
Ifeanyi said that those speaking on behalf of the government were misconstruing the position of the government to the people and fuelling the already heated tension in the country which needed to stop.
“CSOs and the youth leaders of the country were invited for discussions by the past government when the issues of subsidy and Sure-P came on board.
“This was because the youth agitated just like what we are having today and youth leaders were invited from across the 36 states.
“That was what gave birth to young people being part of the Sure-p programme and a whole lot of initiatives and the gap between the presidency and the people were covered.
“That was what also gave birth to presidential youth dialogues that we had throughout that government.(NAN)
