JUST IN: FG recognises right to protest, warns against violence

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upholding the rights of Nigerians to engage in peaceful protests. However, he stressed the need for such activities to be conducted in a manner that does not disrupt public order or infringe on the rights of others.

Idris made this statement on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the Charismatic Bishop Conference to his office in Abuja. He emphasized that while the government acknowledges the right to protest, it is equally dedicated to preventing violence and maintaining public safety.

The Minister’s statement comes amidst plans by various groups to embark on nationwide protests over the current economic crisis. Idris urged protesters to exercise their rights responsibly and peacefully, ensuring that their actions do not harm others or disrupt the social order.

“You see, the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu believes in the freedom of everyone within the confirms of the law to do what he thinks is right for him. Therefore, the President is not an opponent of protest of any kind but the President is an opponent of violence and anything that will negatively hamper the wellbeing of Nigerians. He believes and he has always been saying that within the tenets of democracy, you have every right to do whatever you want to do provided that right does not infringe on another person’s right.

Idris emphasised that President Tinubu is not opposed to protests, but rather to violence and any actions that could negatively impact the wellbeing of Nigerians.

He stressed the importance of balancing individual rights with the need to maintain public order and safety.

Idris conveyed that President Tinubu is fully aware of the genuine concerns and complaints expressed by Nigerians across the nation and he is actively working to implement effective policies aimed at alleviating the challenges faced by the citizenry and bringing relief to all Nigerians.

The Minister said in an unprecedented move, President Tinubu is fashioning out a policy of paying stipends to all young university and polytechnic unemployed graduates in the country pending their formal employment in any sector of the economy.

“But beyond that, there is also another new policy that the President has formulated, which will begin to be seen very soon and that is that all young men and women who have finished universities and polytechnics and have certificates and have done their mandatory NYSC and have not been able to get jobs, will have something from the government to keep them afloat until the time they get jobs,” he said.

He explained that because of the President’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerian workers, even after the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage concluded its assignment and submitted its report, the President sustained his engagement with the Organised Labour Unions until an amicable resolution was reached, which gave birth to the N70,000 national minimum wage.

Idris said the introduction of the Compressed National Gas (CNG) policy by the President is a game changer in the country’s economy because of its ability to bring down the cost of transportation by about 60% thereby providing a viable alternative for petrol and diesel.

The Minister said henceforth, any government procurement of vehicles or machinery, must have a component of CNG embedded in the contracts.

He also highlighted the significant improvement in the security situation in the country, saying since the advent of the Tinubu administration, there has been a remarkable improvement in most of the flashpoints in the country, especially the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, which used to be a nightmare for motorists.

In his remarks, the President General of the Charismatic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Leonard Kawas, dissociated the conference from the planned national protest, saying they had been approached by some groups to join the protest.

“Your Excellency, recently we received some calls from some other religious organizations and other organizations asking us to join in preparation for a nationwide protest, which would start from 1st August 2024.

“We are here to let you know that we do not think the same. That we have rather decided to go all out and call for a truce.

“We have decided to sue for peace and humbly request that our brothers and sisters who are aggrieved in one way or the other, that they should give us some time while we continue to communicate and negotiate with this government on areas that are pertinent to them,” he said.

He said after the 2024 Synod, they have resolved to partner with the Federal Government in prayers and advocacy for the success of the Tinubu Administration.

Archbishop Kawas acknowledged that the Administration has made tremendous progress in social investment, the introduction of the Student Loan Scheme, security, infrastructure in the FCT and across the country, and the introduction of the N70,000 National Minimum Wage among others.

The Charismatic Bishop Conference also used the occasion to present a Meritorious Service Award to the Minister.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE