ActionAid Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to wake up to its responsibility by tackling insecurity, harsh economy and poverty afflicting citizens instead of paying lip service.
It, also, frowned at government’s excessive borrowing, adding that it has moratorium which could mortgage the future of young and unborn generation.
At a press briefing and recognition of retired board members yesterday in Abuja,the Convener of ActionAid Nigeria General Assembly, Hassana Yahaya Bello, contended has worsened food crisis especially in the Northern region.
“The unabating insecurity in the country poses a drawback to the progress being made by Nigeria in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals.
“Recent reports by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation estimate that about 19.4 million people will face food scarcity across Nigeria between June and August 2022 due to insecurity.
“The current hyper-inflation has made the meagre income of many Nigerians insignificant; for a government committed to lifting 100million Nigerians out of poverty, there is a need for reflection and immediate action.
“Business conditions expanded at a sluggish pace in the last five months. Still, inflation remains elevated amid greater prices for food and energy, which, coupled with the fuel scarcity and power supply shortage since February, weigh heavily on all economic activity”
But regardless of the hiccups, she proffered solutions.
“The Federal Government (FG) should show genuine commitment to improving the quality of education in Nigeria by promptly implementing the 2020 FGN/ASUU Memorandum of Action (MoA).
“Furthermore, FG should declare a state of emergency on education to rebuild it and ensure that young Nigerians get quality education in public institutions, especially the children of the poor.
“This is part of government’s investment in human capital to develop the economy.
“It is important to restore the quality of the educational system that graduated most of the politicians and exceptional working-class citizens Nigeria boasts of today and attract students from different parts of the world.
“To end insecurity, the Nigerian government should decentralise the Police Force, encourage and invest in community policing, and leverage advanced ICT to combat crime and criminality.
“To rebuild the peaceful dream country of our founding fathers, political elites, religious leaders, and traditional rulers must also prevail on violent groups in their domains to stop needless bloodshed and tension caused by dissidents.”