By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin.
Stakeholders in Kwara state have called on the Federal Government to review its economic policies considering the economic hardship which Nigerians are presently going through.
The stakeholders, comprising members of trade organisations, religious organisations, farmers’ groups, people living with disabilities, security agencies, and traditional institutions, among others, converged on Ilorin at a town hall meeting organised by the office of the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement (North Central), Mrs. Abiodun Essiet.
The occasion was also used to launch Citizens’ Assembly, (a group of volunteers) for the North Central Region and the Listening Tour, to hear directly from people and allow them make input in the process of governance in order to bridge the communication gap.
One of the speakers at the event, Dr. Hamza Abdulraheem of the Jamatul Nasir Islam, commended some of the bold steps taken by the Tinubu administration to tackle economic challenges bedeviling the country.
He, however, called on the FG to review its economic policies, more so as people are terribly hard up and they are protesting.
According to another speaker, Mohammed Saleh Isiaq, the
President did not prepare sufficient ground for subsidy removal, noting that since Nigerian economy revolves around oil, modular refineries, for instance, should have been established before the removal of the fuel subsidy.
Others called for repair of roads connecting Kwara state with neighbouring states, engagement and empowerment of youth, women and people with disabilities in productive ventures, as well as improvement on consultation with people before project implementation.
One of the traditional chiefs of the Emir of Ilorin, the Magaji Nda of Ilorin, Alhaji Saliu Woru Mohammed, said that everything is not political, urging better communication between the FG and the people.
In her speech, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement (North Central), Mrs. Abiodun Essiet, said that a gap in trust and communication between the federal government and local communities is caused by alleged unfulfilled promises by successive governments over the past 25 years since the return to democratic rule.
The president’s aide said that the present administration, through her office, initiated the Citizens Assembly for the North Central Region and the Listening Tour, to hear directly from fellow citizens and allow them make input in the process of governance in order to bridge the gap.
The Citizens’ Assembly was created to collectively tackle community problems and foster an inclusive society where every voice is heard. It offers structures across communities where residents can express their thoughts, share ideas, table pleas, and collaborate on lasting solutions to existing problems, while also planning proactively for future challenges.