Osun Civil Societies give FG ultimatum to reverse fuel hike, threaten to mobilise people for protest
By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo
The Osun Civil Societies Coalition (OCSCs), has issued a Seven-Day Ultimatum to President Tinubu-led government to reverse the new fuel price and provide palliatives for people else “there will be a mass protest in Osun.”
The group issued the seven-day ultimatum on Thursday at a press conference addressed by its Chairman, Comrade Waheed Lawal, at NUJ Correspondent chapel, Osogbo, Osun State capital.
Lawal explained that Nigerians mostly the poor masses have been struggling to survive as a result of the fuel hikes in the country which has resulted to spikes in cost of food and transportation.
He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not drain Nigerians’ blood for reform or development of any form.
Lawal further explained that President Tinubu reforms is seriously hurting Nigerians and businesses adding that some Nigerians cannot afford to feed twice daily again.
He tasked President Tinubu to hasten the provision of palliatives for Nigerians and take quick steps to reduce the suffering in the country.
“This address becomes imperative given the state of things in the nation and the groaning of the people we represent. We believe this is a time to speak up and address critical issues lest we have on our hand, a march of the people for freedom and emancipation that may be worse than what we witnessed at the ENDSARS revolt.
“Dear friends, the last few months have not been pleasant for majority of Nigerians. Hitherto, Nigerians have been struggling to survive. However, the subsidy removal, naira devaluation, and the implementation of a value-added tax on diesel imports are causing further spikes in the prices of goods and exacerbating a cost-of-living crisis in Africa’s biggest economy.
“It is getting difficult daily for Nigerians, especially with the recent petrol subsidy removal and naira float and other reforms the Tinubu’s led-government is doing. They are good reforms but they are seriously hurting Nigerians and businesses. Many families can’t even afford to eat twice daily anymore as prices keep soaring. The fuel subsidy removal is already having a killing effect on the common people.
“The worsening cost-of-living crisis is causing a decline in living standards, which is hurting physical and mental health and worsening existing conditions.
“As civil society organisations, we take cognisance of the ride of the people by the government and the seeming insult of the people by the so called intention of payment of N8,000 to the poor people of this nation. While we commend the ongoing negotiations between the government and the labour force, we are particularly bothered by the fate of ordinary Nigerians who feel more, the pain of the policies, than the civil servants that have hope. The ordinary Nigerians are the most hit of the current economic hardship. They are hopeless in an administration with renewed hope mantra.
“Last year, the World Bank said Nigeria’s accelerated inflation growth had eroded the N30,000 minimum wage by 35.5 per cent and widened the poverty net with an estimated five million people in 2022.
“The report highlighted that the country’s minimum wage, which was $82 in 2019, had dropped to $26 owing to accelerating inflation.
“Nigeria’s inflation at 22.41 percent in May has outpaced wage growth, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, with several analysts projecting a higher double-digit rate in coming months.
“Food prices are up by over 150 per cent, and transportation costs have almost doubled respectively year-on-year, according to Business Day’s market checks.
“The Nigerian government must move quickly to set up shock absorbers to cushion the people’s pain. It is just a mere emphasis to state that there is poverty, hunger, confusion and frustration in the land. Anger is bottling up and the gunpowder that Nigeria is sitting on may explode anytime.
‘’We recommend a pause in interest rate hikes to relieve the pressures on economic agents. We also urge the government to implement fiscal measures such as reducing/removing the tax on basic food items to protect the most vulnerable as well as spur demand-side growth.
“We also implore the government to hasten the provision of the anticipated palliatives to lessen the impact of the rising trend in prices on economic agents. We can’t continue to wait on promises for palliative. The time is NOW!
“The recent hike in cost of fuel is damning. People of Osun State particularly trek and those that have vehicles can’t even afford to fuel them for use. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not drain Nigerians’ blood for reform or development of any form.
“Without intention to threaten, we want to state categorically that failure for the issues raised above to be looked into between now and the next one week, and the needful done, we shall be leading the mass of the people out on the street for a protest and nothing shall deter us till we achieve victory since that seems to be one language that the government understands.
“We appeal to our people to remain calm and resilient with hope that these pains shall bring forth joy and Nigeria shall rise again,” he added.
