‘Govs, Ministers Meet Today To Stop Nationwide Hardship Protest’

The Federal Government has announced its readiness to engage in dialogue with the organizers of the planned nationwide protests scheduled for August 1-10.

This decision was reached during an emergency meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, which saw the participation of all federal ministers.

In preparation for the protests, which aim to address the rising cost of living and harsh economic conditions in Nigeria, all federal ministers have been directed to visit their respective states between Wednesday, July 24, and Thursday, August 1.

Additionally, selected ministers are scheduled to meet with state governors during the 143rd session of the National Economic Council at the Council Chamber of the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.

The emergency meeting, convened by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, highlighted the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing the grievances of the citizens.

A circular sighted by Punch on Tuesday evening indicated that Special Advisers to the President on Policy and Coordination, Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman; Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga; and former Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, were among those invited to discuss the planned protests.

The circular read, “I am directed to invite you to attend a meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on the above subject slated as follows: July 24, 2024, Time: 10 am Prompt, Venue: Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Conference Room. Attendance is mandatory. Please accept the warm regards of the Secretary to The Government of the Federation.”

The protest, tagged ‘EndBadGovernance,’ has gained significant traction on social media and is set to occur across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Despite the widespread support, the organizers have remained anonymous, with no group officially taking responsibility for the movement.

The call for protests comes amid what many describe as Nigeria’s worst economic crisis in a generation. The Federal Government, while acknowledging the citizens’ right to peaceful protest, emphasizes the importance of dialogue and has assured the public that efforts are being made to address the economic challenges facing the nation.

A source who spoke with Punch on the outcome of Wednesday’s meeting outcome told the platform that some ministers—such as those of Finance and Budget and Economic Planning— who sit on the National Economic Council, will attend its 143rd meeting on Thursday to appeal to state governors to dialogue with their constituents.

The source said, “There will be a NEC meeting tomorrow (today). So, they will be going there to get the buy-in of the governors. They will use NEC to get the Governors’ support for the plan.

“The government is extending the dialogue to NEC to allow governors to join what it is trying to do.

“The way the government sees this protest is that it is not just a protest against hardship or Tinubu. Some people want to use it to undermine the Nigerian state and bring it down and target some class of people entirely.”