Thursday, 28th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

Put economy on emergency, say professionals

By Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja
31 March 2016   |   11:49 pm
Concerned about the parlous state of the economy, a group, South-East/South-South Professionals of Nigeria, has called on the Federal Government to, in consultation with the National Assembly, declare a three-year state of emergency on it.

economic-growth

Concerned about the parlous state of the economy, a group, South-East/South-South Professionals of Nigeria, has called on the Federal Government to, in consultation with the National Assembly, declare a three-year state of emergency on it.

To show commitment, the group advocated that all top government officials, including governors, ministers and other categories of top Nigerians should fly in economy class.

The forum’s president, Emeka Ugwuoju, in a chat yesterday with reporters after meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja, advised that the nation’s economy must not be left to the vagaries of political considerations rather should be seen from the prism of national emergency.

Uguwuoju, flanked by other executive members, said the group was planning a second South East/South-South Forum for April 28, which the Vice President had agreed to be the special guest.

He noted that though the forum may be perceived as a geo-political group, Uguwuoju, however, pointed out that the organisation had a pan-Nigerian outlook, adding that: “ We try to interface South-West professionals and others from other geo-political zones on how we can get the Nigerian economy out of the woods.

“We believe that ‎each zone has something to bring to the table. We don’t have to wait for the Federal Government to do things for us. We the professionals want to see what we can bring to the table. We, from the South-South and South East, are bringing the energy corridor project to the table and we can say we have the most comparative advantage on that.”

He continued: “On the current stage of the economy, we strongly suggest that Mr. President, in consultation with the National Assembly, should declare a three-year state of emergency on the economy. ‎And this is not about APC and PDP, it is something that is non-partisan. Our economy is bad and people should realise that.”

Uguwuoju, however, urged sacrifice from all and sundry during these trying moments in the nation’s history owing to the prevailing dip in oil revenue receipts.

0 Comments