The Federal Government has scheduled an emergency meeting for Wednesday morning in response to a planned nationwide protest set for August 1.
This follows President Bola Tinubu’s plea for the organizers to cancel the protests and allow his administration more time to implement people-oriented programs.
A circular distributed on Tuesday indicated that all ministers, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and several special advisers, including Hadiza Bala-Usman, Bayo Onanuga, and former Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, were invited to the meeting.
The circular, signed by Permanent Secretary Richard Pheelangwah, was titled, “Planned Nationwide Protest.” It stated, “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.”
The planned protest, driven by rising living costs and economic hardship blamed on the removal of fuel subsidies and other economic reforms, has gained momentum on social media with hashtags like ‘EndBadGovernance,’ ‘TinubuMustGo,’ and ‘#Revolution2024.’
Despite this, the Presidency and police authorities have urged youths to abandon the protest, calling it ill-advised. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, conveyed the President’s message, emphasizing that there is no need for a strike and that the government is committed to addressing the protesters’ concerns.
Idris highlighted the passage of the National Minimum Wage Bill and the approval and delivery of grains to state governments as steps the President has taken to improve the welfare of Nigerians.
