Yemi Obafemi
Reacting to the planned nationwide protest set to hold across the country from August 1 to 10, President Bola Tinubu he has urged Nigerians especially the youths to await his response to all their grievance, as he’s already addressing the issues raised.
Tinubu disclosed this through Minister of Information and National Orientation Minister, Mohammed Idris, while briefing newsmen after a routine meeting with the president at the State House, Abuja, said:
According to the president, part of the strategies put in place to the hardship include the implementation of the new minimum wage N70,000 and trucks of rice already dispatched to all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as well as the Student Loans Fund launched recently by the president.
Idris said: “Mr President has asked me to again inform Nigerians that he listens to them especially the young people that are trying to protest.
Mr President listens to them; he takes what they say seriously and he is working assiduously to ensure that this country is good not just for today but also for the future.
“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 government’s response to all their pleas; he has listened to them like I said.”
His words: “A lot is happening, only today, the National Assembly has expeditiously passed the bill on national minimum wage; you can see how the president is working. It was transmitted only yesterday, today, it has been passed.
“A lot of other interventions that the president has also put in place are also going to be looked at expeditiously in the interest of Nigerians. So there is no need for strike. The young people out there should listen to the president and allow the president more time to see to the realization of all the goodies he has for them.
“Highlights of other policies to cushion the effect of hardship Nigerians are feeling are in town. For example, you saw that the Federal Government approved grains and rice for state governments, it was delivered to them expeditiously.
“Also, the Federal Government, like I said that time it is just the necessary first step. Government is going to continue in that direction, supporting them and assuring them that whatever intervention the Federal Government has put in place go to those that should benefit, it is very important that is being put out.
“The Federal Government is looking at strategies that every intervention would go directly to those who benefit from those interventions, not middle men intervening along the way.
“You heard about the Student Loans Board launched by Mr President. Mr President is very passionate about the fact that everyone will have the opportunity to go to school. It is no longer a time for all of us to stay back and see our able bodied young men and women that have passed the examinations to go to tertiary institutions that have not been able to do that because their parents are not able to pay for their fees. This is now a thing of the past, government is very very desirous to ensure that happens.
“You know the provision that was made to the NELFUND already; we have in excess what is required today and the more that people are requiring that the more the president will also give.”
