The Coalition of Civil Society for Good Governance (CCSGG) has expressed concerns over what it describes as “great turbulence” in the nation’s economy, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention by relevant government agencies to prevent an impending crisis among the vulnerable members of society.
The coalition has called upon the government to lift the suspension on the activities of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. This move aims to alleviate the effects of hunger and escalating poverty among vulnerable groups, including children, youths, and women.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, the National Coordinator, Comrade Okpanachi Jacob, highlighted the rising security challenges and their correlation with poverty and hunger, stressing the need for rapid intervention to prevent economic collapse among vulnerable groups.
“Our economy as a nation is undergoing great turbulence which have affected daily lives of our peace loving citizens, while we have been patient and patriotic in the face of this economic challenges; there is still hope in the renewed hope agenda of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s led administration if well guided to face the realities on ground.
“It is however pertinent that an urgent intervention through relevant government agencies be engaged within the shortest possible period to avoid a foreseen implosion from the vulnerable members of the populace,” the statement said.
“More youths are self-conscripting into various crimes that eventually culminate into insecurity of various forms.
“In achieving a secured Nation state; a short term need of providing the basic needs for Nigerians cannot be undermined while on a long the incontestable roles of mass education becomes more necessary than ever,” he added.
The coalition emphasized the importance of immediate action by relevant government agencies to address the economic challenges faced by citizens. It expressed optimism in the government’s agenda but stressed the necessity of guided implementation to effectively address the current realities.
Furthermore, CCSGG urged the federal government to intensify non-kinetic methods of combating insecurity by enhancing recruitment for various security agencies and considering the establishment of state police in line with global best practices.
Comrade Jacob also urged the Government to address the challenges posed by the unstable exchange rate, fluctuating price regimes, and inadequate power supply, which have exacerbated the cost of living for Nigerians, particularly the vulnerable groups.
CCSGG reiterated the need to lift the suspension on the NSIPA activities to mitigate the effects of hunger and poverty, emphasizing the importance of programs such as N-Power, Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), and Home Grown School Feeding Programmes (HGSF).
The coalition urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to encourage power distribution companies to fulfill their duty of providing reliable electricity to enhance productivity. It called on Nigerians to remain steadfast during these economic crises and continue engaging with the government to ensure good governance delivery.
