The Conference of Northern States Civil Society Networks, a forum of states based civil society networks operating in the 19 Northern states of Nigeria, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to address the worsening economic, insecurity and other governance issues in Nigeria before vacating office in 2023.
In an open letter to the President signed by Ibrahim Waiya and Amb. Ibrahim Yusuf, chairman and secretary respectively, the civil society network said Nigerians are dying slowly due to rising cost of living.
The open letter emphasised that the threat to security of lives and properties in Nigeria has in recent time been on the rise and is gradually consuming Nigerian commuters across various major roads in the country, particularly in the Northern parts.
“The continuous activities of bandits, kidnappers and Boko Haram in many Northern States, such as Borno, Niger, Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina and others, have adversely affected the economy of people in those states. Many lives and properties have been destroyed.
“In addition to this, thousands of people have been rendered homeless, and many communities destroyed. Farming activities which remain the major preoccupation of the inhabitants of those states, was rendered almost impossible, especially during the last rainy season, while educational and healthcare activities have been paralyzed and halted at some instances.
“It is also important to draw the attention of the Federal Government on the increasing crisis of farmers/herders in places like Benue State, which resulted in the number of persons displaced. The nonchalant attitude of the Federal Government in Benue State herders/farmers crisis, would not augur well, and political differences should not give political leaders the right to jeopardize the lives of the citizenry,” the letter read.
While appreciating the untiring efforts of Nigeria armed forces, the group said it is imperative for the Nigerian armed forces and Nigeria police to enhance their cooperation and improve their synergy, to proactively combat terror by taking the fight to their dens.
“Similarly, we equally advocate for a holistic approach that would sustain the military campaigns, and at the time employ a non – military campaign strategy to achieve the much needed stability in the country.”
“We wish to register the concerns of the Nigerian citizens on the proposal to remove fuel subsidy in Nigeria by 2022. We acknowledge that, petroleum sector contributes substantially to the Nigerian economy; nonetheless the prospective benefits are diminished due to the practice of significant subsidies on imports of petroleum products. However, subsidies on imported petroleum products are considered to be an important strategy which keeps fuel prices low and the cost of living.
On the proposed removal of subsidy on fuel, the civil society network argued that the living standard of Nigerians will worsen is government proceed with the policy.
“We must, therefore, acknowledge that, the proposal for the removal of subsidy on fuel is certainly one of the most contentious socio-economic policy issue which deserves a second thought, considering how critical the time is, as many households could not feed or cater for the immediate needs of their families, due to the high cost of living, and increasing inflation.
“Nigerians are dying slowly due to rising cost of living as the country’s inflation hits a 4-year high by more than 18 percent in March, with food prices going high by almost 23 percent high-ceilinged prices.
“A rise in joblessness has also left a third of Nigeria’s workforce unemployed at the end of 2020, and this is a figure released by the National Bureau of Statistics. The World Poverty Clock reports that at the latest count, Nigeria had 43 percent of its population that is over 90 million people living below the poverty line of less than $1.90 per day, therefore fuel subsidy removal at this hardest time in Nigeria, is nothing but an invitation to a higher level of poverty and social insecurity.
“One of the conservative projections is that another 30 million Nigerians could jump into poverty, as they may not be able to feed or cater for their families due the high rise in inflation that may be orchestrated by the removal of fuel subsidy. And according to some business leaders and financial experts, curbing inflation and tackling high transportation costs, rising cost of energy and logistics are key factors to rebooting the economy, and ironically these are some of the ensuing outcomes of a non-oil subsidy regime in Nigeria.
“It is our honest submission that removal of fuel subsidy could only be perceptible when our refineries are fixed and operate maximally or they are privatized to allow private business to own and operate them. Nigeria must have the capacity to refine its products, at least for local consumption.
“Finally, we wish to draw the attention of the Federal Government to understand the sensitivity of the proposal to remove the fuel subsidy in 2022, its accompanying consequences and effects on the Nigerian masses, who shall practically be the victims of the non-fuel subsidy regime.
“The proposal to remove the subsidy at this critical economic condition, characterized by high and increasing inflation, unemployment, high cost of living, insecurity, is practically inconceivable, unworkable, ill – time and anti-masses. We urge the Federal Government to ignore the bunch of some hired faceless political civil society organizations, who always seek to cash on a situation, not minding the consequences of their actions on the majority of Nigerian citizens. It is time for the Federal Government to focus its energy to address the rising inflation in the country, and work hard towards alleviating the sufferings of the Nigerians, who slowly die in silence and agony.”
The open letter signed by the chairmen of coalitions of civil society organizations in the 19 northern states decried the ever growing rate of unemployment in Nigeria.
They called on federal government to channel its energy and resources into job creation for the teeming unemployed persons in Nigeria.
“The increasing rate of unemployment in Nigeria is alarming, and may not augur well for the country in the near future.
“According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the unemployment rate has increased to 33.30 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020 from 27.10 percent in the second quarter of 2020. In 2019, the labor participation rate among the total population aged between 15 and 65 in Nigeria amounted to around 56.66 percent. The youth unemployment rate in Nigeria also increased to 53.40% in the fourth quarter of 2020 from 40.80% in the second quarter of 2020, as released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
“Sir, these unemployment indices are really scary, dangerous and a potential threat to our corporate existence, national security and unity. And are also capable of endangering our democratic governance, unless something tangible is done very quickly to bridge the ever widening social disproportion amongst the Nigerian citizens.
“It is therefore our submission that your Government must concentrate more in creating job opportunities for the youths through a comprehensive and fully funded entrepreneurship programme that will allow every young Nigerian to benefit from the scheme, regardless of tribal, religious, regional, gender or educational paper qualification.”
The group on President Buhari-led federal government to implement the 2012 Oronsaye committee report to reduce high cost of governance.
“Sir, as the country is steadily drifting into more economic difficulties due to high inflation, we are of the opinion that, one of the practical avenues to be exploited is reduction of the cost of governance. The cost of Governance is comparatively one of the most expensive in the whole of Africa. The over burdening of the economy through recurrent expenditure which goes to only few in the country is outrageous. The payment of salaries and allowances to Government appointed and elected officials is on the high side, and detrimental to the majority of the Nigerians.
“Ministries, Department and Agencies with duplicate mandates are so enormous and sadly unprecedented. In the recent submission of the DG, Budget Office of the Federation, at the third national summit on diminishing corruption in the public sector, which was held at the State House, suggested that the number of ministers needs to be pruned, and the number of political office holders and their aides need to be reduced.
“This position was in line with the recommendation of the former Head of service Committee, on restructuring and rationalization of MDAs, Mr. Stephen Oronsaye who recommended that there should be a merger of some MDAs to reduce duplication of mandate and cost of governance in Nigeria.
“We therefore urge the President to expedite action to implement the White Paper on Restructuring and Rationalization of Federal Government Agencies, Departments and Commissions, and ensure that the work is accomplished before the end of your tenure.
“According to Stephen Oronsaye committee report submitted on April 16, 2012, there were 263 MDAs in Nigeria, and unfortunately the number is still counting as Senate and House of Reps are still busy promulgating laws to establish new agencies and commissions, despite the nominal impacts of such Commissions or Agencies to the overall development of the country.
“It is our submission that, the Federal Government should as a matter of urgency explore ways to reduce the cost of governance as well, and reduce unnecessary spending and embezzlement of public funds, and channel such funds towards the payment of outstanding workers entitlements, such as pensions and gratuities.”
