.Review subsidy removal, tackle insecurity, AWLA tasks FG
The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, yesterday, urged President Bola Tinubu, labour unions and other stakeholders to take some steps to avert the planned protest slated for next week over the economic downturn.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, the organisation maintained that steps could be taken by the Federal Government, state governments, leaders at various strata, members of the public and the organised labour unions to prevent strikes and protests.
It urged President Tinubu to direct all government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to patronise only locally-made items and services – except where such items or services are not locally available, among others.
Meanwhile, African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) has urged the Federal Government to review the fuel subsidy removal and declare a state of emergency on insecurity to tackle the crippling economic hardship in the country.
The newly-elected executive members of the association, led by its President, Caroline Ibharuneafe, made the call during a media briefing at the AWLA Secretariat in Lagos.
Ibharuneafe said that government must consider a holistic review of its economic policies and tackle insecurity frontally to save the country from going into recession.
According to her, the prevailing high cost of living has been exacerbated by the grave insecurity in the land with a series of kidnappings, rape of women and children.
She, however, warned that AWLA would not hesitate to take the government to court if concrete measures are not immediately taken to address the current hardship in the country.
Ibharuneafe, who insisted that AWLA is in full support of state police as a measure to tackle the insecurity challenges in the country, said that women must be included in the committees set up by the government to find lasting solutions to the nation’s problems.
She said that any good measure that would put the country on the path of safety and food security should be encouraged.
Ajayi, who further advised that the President should give order that essential food items be temporarily imported to fill the yawning gap in food supply in the country, said: “In addition to opening food storages in the country, special arrangement must be made for all the 774 local councils to embark on crash agricultural productions.
