23rd February, 2024
PRESS RELEASE:
HARDSHIP: GOVERNORS, SENATORS, REPS MUST WAKE UP –
MURIC
A faith-based non-governmental organization (NGO) has
called on state governors in the country to make proper use of the extra funds shared
from subsidy withdrawal to alleviate the suffering of people in their states. The
group said state governors should ease the pressure on Abuja.
It also reminded citizens to stop concentrating on the
Federal Government when in actual fact the governors collect monthly
allocations on their behalf. However, the group lauded the efforts of Borno and
Lagos state governors.
The human rights group, which spoke
under the aegis of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), made its case in a
statement titled, ‘Hardship: Governors must wake up’. The statement which was
distributed to the media on Friday, 23rd February, 2024, was signed
by the group’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
The full statement reads:
“We note with pleasure
the concern shown by the Federal Government (FG) and the various efforts it is
putting in place to alleviate the sufferings of the jamaahiir (masses). This is
the hallmark of a responsible and sensitive administration. The various steps
taken by FG in the last seven days have proved that this administration has genuine
interest in the welfare of Nigerians.
“Among the steps taken by the FG are aggressive agricultural initiatives
involving thousands of hectares of land, voting of humongous amounts of money
to the agriculture sector, releasing thousands of metric tons in grains and
supplying 2,000 tractors to farmers to promote mechanical agriculture around
the country and ensure food security. No past government has ever come this
far.
“It is also an open secret that FG in recent times tripled allocations
given to state governments. This is in order to enable them to take care of
citizens in the state and to cushion the effect of subsidy removal on them (https://saharareporters.com/2024/02/18/we-increased-funds-states-after-subsidy-removal-do-what-youre-elected-and-stop).
“Apart from their
monthly allocations which was tripled, all the 36 governors were also given N30
billion each for the same purpose (https://solacebase.com/hardship-akpabio-exposes-governors-says-each-state-gets-n30bn-to-ameliorate-inflation/#google_vignette).
Just yesterday, FG moved to fix prices of rice, yam, gari and other items (https://opr.news/news/detail/dec8cd6b3a491a3d9de2c4ab634e690b).
“It therefore behoves the governors to provide additional
palliatives as well as lasting succour for the current hardship being
experienced by Nigerians. It is imperative that state governors demonstrate
equal concern for the plight of the people the same way that FG is taking the
matter with all seriousness.
“We can single out two or three governors who have shown this
concern and who have been dishing out support to their people. Topmost among
them is the governor of Borno, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum. He is closely
followed by the Lagos State governor.
“The Borno governor has been thinking outside the box. He
distributes cash, vehicles (including solar-driven cabs to drivers as taxi),
machineries, foodstuff including thousands of bags of rice, etc. Maiduguri is
one place in Nigeria where the cost of transport is cheapest today.
“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos
State has set up special markets where goods are sold at low prices. He has
also reduced the number of workdays for civil servants to three per week (https://www.crimechannels.com/breaking-government-announces-25-per-cent-slash-in-transport-fare/).
This will bring great relief to workers.
“Sanwo-Olu also spiced his relief package with free
delivery for pregnant women in government hospitals and rebate in some drugs (https://www.nigerianewspapersonline.net/news/sanwo-olu-announces-free-delivery-in-government-hospitals-rebate-in-some-drugs/).
“Sanwo-Olu capped the edifice with the announcement of
25% slash in transport fare (https://www.crimechannels.com/breaking-government-announces-25-per-cent-slash-in-transport-fare/). Lagos and Ogun have also started joint patrol of the
Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to reduce the fear of insecurity (https://www.crimechannels.com/insecurity-police-in-lagos-ogun-begin-joint-patrol-on-lagos-ibadan-expressway/).
“The governor of Kano has also put smiles on the lips
of Muslims in the state who have been nursing fears concerning how to cope in the
coming Ramadan season with prices sky-rocketing daily. Their fear is real
because these are people who have been on artificial ‘fasting’ months before
Ramadan due to the present economic doldrum. But the state governor has assured
them of government’s support by instituting a Ramadan Feeding Committee (https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2024/02/22/kano-govt-inaugf
Nigerians. urates-ramadan-feeding-committee/).
“These and other measures being put in place across
the country will suppress citizens’ fears and mitigate their sufferings. These
are exactly what all state governors, senators, representatives and local
government chairmen should engage in.
“The line of demarcation between the role of the president,
the governor, the senator, reps and local government chairmen on issues of
providing relief for the electorate is thinner than the threads of a cobweb
particularly where there is an enlightened electorate.
“We therefore
call on all the 36 state governors, the senators, reps and local government
chairmen particularly those who are yet to showcase efforts being made in their
states on the issue of relief packages in these trying times to wake up and
perform. People are hungry. The sick cannot afford drugs. Parents are in excruciating
pain as they watch their children gnawing at near-empty plates.
“We urge state governors to make proper use of the extra
funds shared from subsidy withdrawal to alleviate the suffering of people in
their states. There is too much pressure on Abuja. State governors should ease
the pressure on the presidency.
“That is how it should be because money realized from
subsidy withdrawal is being shared between Abuja and the states. It is articulated
irresponsibility for any state governor to stand akimbo after collecting monthly
allocation plus an extra N30 billion while Abuja suffocates under tension. Who does that?
“Politics apart, state governments must be on the same page with FG
particularly on this issue of ameliorating the sufferings of Nigerians during
these hard times. Governors must avoid playing politics with the lives of
Nigerians. Hunger will not check party cards in your pocket. It is your
purchasing power that matters. This is why every governor must cooperate with
FG in its efforts to rubber-cushion the present hardship.
“State governors should emulate the good initiatives of
others. It is when states copy the good things in other states that good
governance will spread. Our citizens will notice the change. They will see their
leaders’ goodwill. The restiveness in the land will subside. Even activists
will shun calls for protest and professional troublemakers will become
isolated.
“To Nigerians in their respective states we have this
message: You must be conscious of your Allah-given fundamental human rights.
Your governors, senators, representatives and local government chairmen are
your servants. They are there to serve you. They are in office by your mandate.
“Stop focusing on
Abuja alone. Ask your governor questions about the monthly allocations
collected on your behalf. In particular, ask him what he has done with the N30
billion recently collected by him from Abuja.
“Just before
Christmas Nigeria’s 109 senators collected N200 million worth of bags of rice
from FG. Their 360 counterparts in the House of Representatives also collected palliatives
worth N100 million (https://leadership.ng/share-tinubu-rice-now-muric-tells-nass-members/).
Did you get anything from them? This is the time to interrogate your senators
and reps. It is your right.
“Do you know anything about your senators’ and reps’
constituency projects? Do you even know their constituency offices? Ask your
chairman what he is doing with funds received by him. They all owe you
explanations.
“As a parting shot, MURIC reminds Nigerians to stop concentrating
on the FG for all their problems. We must ease this tension on Abuja so that it
can have more time to make better plans for good governance.”
#GovernorsTakeResponsibility
#AskYourGovernor
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Executive Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
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