Civil Society Forum in Kano state said it will not participate in the proposed protest by Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) slated for tomorrow.
The President of the Forum who also is the Executive Director, Citizens for Development and education (CDE), Amb. Ibrahim Waiya stated this today in Kano during an interaction with news men.
According to him, the Forum decided to boycott the protest after weighing its implications and possible threat to the state, but will rather engage the government through other civil means other than the confrontational means which could degenerate into public disorder.
He said though the leadership of the NLC in Kano has not contacted the forum for its support, it should be on record that Civil Societies under their forum has nothing to do with the protest adding that those who started the protest today in the state were not its members as they are fully in support of the subsidy removal policy of President Bola Tinubu.
Waiya, stated that the CSOs Forum is of the opinion that the state government should rather be engaged by critical stakeholders to come up with better palliative plans that will alleviate the sufferings of their people and also set up committees of trustees who will ensure proper implementation and distribution of such palliative packages.
Ibrahim, said, CSOs in Kano will work with the state government on how best to manage palliative funds, food items and other materials that are meant to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal, noting that the policy, though ill timed remains a good decision for Nigeria going by experts’ opinion that it is a scam used to enrich a few in the country.
“Protest is not the best solution for the problem at hand. We know that things have become more tough for Nigerians since the removal of the subsidy but it is a reality we must face, we cannot continue to pay a few for doing nothing”.
“Our position is, lets work with the state governments to come up with quick intervention plans that will bring succor to the people and not wait until the Federal Government brings its palliatives”.
“Imagine the trillions the FG has been able to save in just a month, just imagine what more we could save in the next ten months. These trillions if spread across different sectors such as power, education and health, etc will go a long way to help Nigeria,” he added.