The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on unemployment in the country.
Executive Director of CHRICED, Comrade Ibrahim Zikirullahi, made the call at a state of the nation news conference on Wednesday in Abuja, tagged, ‘2023, Most Tragic and Turbulent Year in the life of Nigerians’.
He also urged the government to vote N784bn at N1 billion for job creation in each of the 774 local government areas (LGAs) across the country.
He said that the disbursement of the fund should be based on the unique characteristics of each local government area.
“The call had become necessary because the challenge of the cost of living had continued to pose a significant existential threat to millions of Nigerians, hence the need to put measures in place to address it.
“CHRICED recognises certain ambitious declarations, such as the additional increase of N35,000 for workers, conditional cash transfers to the poorest of the poor, students’ loans and revitalisation of the manufacturing and agricultural sectors,” Zikirullahi said.
He said that the past year has been marked by numerous challenges and upheavals like the unforgettable year when Okonkwo faced immense difficulties in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart.
He said that available evidence indicates that the cost-of-living crisis continues to pose a significant existential threat to millions of Nigerians ever since Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed the Presidency on May 29, 2023.
He said, “Though the people have consistently expressed their serious concerns regarding the impact of the government’s policies, no concrete and effective measures have been taken to alleviate their fears.
“Regardless of the severe hardships faced by the citizens, the government still believes that its twin policies of subsidy removal and the devaluation of the national currency against the United States Dollar, without addressing other crucial concerns, are the best solutions for the economy.
“Unfortunately, the implementation of these policies has resulted in an astronomical increase in the cost of essential items such as food, transportation, and house rents, making them unaffordable for many Nigerian families. The removal of fuel subsidies has led to a surge in the price of Premium Motor Spirit, which in turn has had a ripple effect on the overall economy.
“As transportation costs rise, the prices of food and other necessities also soar, further burdening the citizens. It is important to note that Nigeria’s transportation sector heavily relies on petrol, meaning that any increase in fuel prices creates a domino effect that negatively impacts the economy.”