The Federal Government has called an emergency meeting for Wednesday morning in response to a statewide protest set for August 1.
This comes after President Bola Tinubu pleaded with the organisers to halt the protests and give his administration more time to carry out people-oriented initiatives.
According to a circular shared with The PUNCH on Tuesday by sources familiar with the meeting, all ministers, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and the Special Advisers to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman; Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga; and former Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, were invited to the meeting.
The circular, signed by Richard Pheelangwah, Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Affairs Office, and dated July 23, 2024, was captioned ‘Planned Nationwide Protest.’
It 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 a.m. 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 planned session comes amid calls for nationwide protests beginning August 1 over rising living costs and economic hardship in the country, which have been blamed on the removal of fuel subsidies, the floating of the naira, and other economic reforms implemented by the Tinubu administration.
The planned event, inspired by previous Kenya protests, has acquired popularity on social media, where it is trending with the hashtags ‘End Bad Government,’ ‘Tinubu Must Go,’ and ‘#Revolution2024.
However, the presidency and police officials urged the youths to abandon the idea, branding it as ill-advised.
Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, delivered the President’s message to Nigerians in an interview with State House correspondents on Tuesday, following a meeting with Tinubu.
He said, “On the issue of the planned protest, Mr. President does not see any need for that. He asked them to shelve that plan and he has asked them to await the government’s response to all their pleas.
“So, there is no need for a strike. The young people out there should listen to the President and allow the President more time to see to the realisation of all the goodies he has for them.”
Idris stated that the President took the demonstrators’ concerns seriously and was dedicated to securing Nigeria’s future prosperity.
He cited the National Assembly’s prompt ratification of the National Minimum Wage Bill, as well as the recent approval and delivery of grains to state governments, as examples of the President’s dedication to Nigerians’ well-being.
