PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu and governors of the 36 states of the federation have been called upon to not delay in the introduction of palliatives to cushion the effects of the economic hardship being faced by Nigerians as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy and cancellation of multiple foreign exchange transactions in the country.
The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG) made this call in an Eid al-Adha message to Nigerian leaders and citizens.
In the message signed by the national coordinator, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, and the national secretary, Dr Nasir Balogun, the group said the palliatives, the details of which should be announced, should be implemented soon and extended to all segments of the society.
On Security, the MMWG commended President Tinubu for appointing new service chiefs but advised that future changes in other areas governance should be done with proper religious balancing to avoid misconception or negative reaction.
It called on the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, to quickly increase the numerical strength of the police, arguing that “less than half a million police personnel for Nigeria of over 200 million people is grossly inadequate”.
The group also called on the police chief to instill discipline and patriotism in the rank and file so as to reduce corruption and encourage diligent prosecution of criminal cases.
It frowned at what it called the misuse of police personnel by the political and business classes to the detriment of the general security of Nigerians and warned that close attention should be paid to “the renewed crime waves in Borno, Plateau, Imo and some parts of Kwara State”.
The group, however, commended the IGP for his effort at raising a new tactical squad to deal with resurging crimes and urged him to sustain the zeal.
It asked President Tinubu to fulfill his promise to deal with corruption which it said had been responsible for the myriads of economic problems facing Nigeria.
It commended him on cancellation of fuel subsidy, mutiple forex exchange, suspension and investigation of Chief Executives of CBN and EFCC, urging him to move further by smashing the cartel alledgedly collecting money for recruitment and placement in the public service and on political appointments.
The MMWG called on the 36 state governors to synergise with the Federal Government to fight corruption, stating that it must not continue ‘to be business as usual’ in the face of the serious hardship Nigerians are facing.
On the effects of the current economic hardship on Nigerians, it said the governors should upwardly review salaries of workers and pensions of senior citizens.
The group then called on all Nigerians to regularly pray for the triumph of the president and the state governors over the evil plots of unpatriotic elements.
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