A Coalition of Political and Civil Society groups have concluded plans to organize nationwide town hall meetings in the six geopolitical zones of the country to conscientize Nigerians on the fuel subsidy removal and according to them the misunderstanding, misinterpretation and motley of incoherent narratives surrounding the policy is due to the lack of proper public communication mechanism to drive into the heart and mind of Nigerian on the importance and imperative of the policy.
The Coalition consisting of the Broom Platform, the Coalition of Concerned Youth Leaders for Good Governance, Nigerian Diaspora for Asiwaju, Asiwaju Fans Club and the APC NewsOnline also appealed to Nigerians to be patient with President Bola Tinubu-led administration following the abrupt removal of subsidy.
According to the Coalition, the town hall meeting will give citizens a voice and a role in fuel subsidy removal.
The group made the appeal while speaking in media briefing held Wednesday in Abuja, on the benefits of the fuel subsidy removal.
Speaking on the expectations of the town hall meeting, Dr Tom Ohikere who is the team lead said that the town hall meetings will give Nigerians the opportunity to ask questions rather than the Labour Unions taking the lead.
He said it was important at this stage of our nation building as one of the major flaws of successive governments is poor public engagement strategy.
Ohikere said, “I am very sure that if we engage the public most Nigerians will appreciate the benefits of the subsidy removal. Currently there seems to be distrust, suspicion and anxiety because they are not properly informed about the policy and benefits of the subsidy removal.
“The impending town hall meeting will enhance the visibility of the Tinubu’s government, as any opportunity to connect directly with the government will greatly appreciated by Nigerians. The town hall meetings will take place as scheduled: North Central in Abuja on the 3rd of October, Northeast (Maiduguri), on the 7th of October, Northwest (Kaduna) on the 10th, South South (Portharcourt) on the 14th, Southeast (Owerri) on the 17th of October and Southwest (Lagos) on the 21st of October.
On his part, the Director General of the Nigeria Diaspora, Mr Akinmoladun Badeji said Nigeria ia at a crossroad with the ascendancy of a new administration of the renewed hope banner and that the fuel subsidy removal policy requires sacrifice, policy clarity and sustainability.
Badeji said, ” At this juncture, we are calling on all Nigerians, we need all hands on deck to support the government of the day. Because a lot of narratives about the subsidy removal trending does not do justice to the real facts and intricacies of the policy.
Also on his part, he national president of Coalition of Concerns Youth Leaders for Good Governance, Al-mustapha Asuku Abdullahi said that the herculean task of making Nigeria great as we all know is not a tea-party affairs, hence the need for us as the young force to take our destinies in our own hands.
“Today, I want to let us know that the recent subsidy removal which has caused so much uproar is a decision taken by the present Government of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces out of his Good-Will and Commitment to take the nation to the next level. This is the decision previous Government could not take because of their vested interest in the heinous Subsidy-Business that have impoverished millions of Nigerians while enriching the few.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that at his Inaugural Speech on the 29th of May, 2023, the President then assured Nigerians that it will no longer be Business as usual. And as Man who have seen it all, he knew where the pendulum of development and progress lies, therefore, people should not be hoodwink into believing that the Government is not sensitive to the plight of the people.
“I want you to be part of history by encouraging the present Government sound louder the drums of progress of the President Tinubu led-Government.
“The Nigerian Youth who form the fulcrum of strength of any economy should be abreast with the benefits of the Subsidy removal, hence the need for us as an umbrella body of every Concerned Nigerian Youth to educate, create the desired awareness of the enormous benefits of the Subsidy Removal, Abdullahi added.