Issued: Abuja, 10:30am
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (Situation Room) expresses disappointment over the State of the Nation and incidents that have taken place in the first and second quarter of the year 2022. A few months ago, Situation Room on 12th May 2022, raised alarm on the rising level of insecurity in the country, the level of transparency and accountability in the electoral process, among other concerns. It is rather disheartening that two months later, the State of the Nation has further depreciated thereby raising questions about the leadership of the country.
Based on the foregoing, Situation Room raises more concerns as follows:
SPATE OF INSECURITY IN THE COUNTRY:
The state of insecurity in the country has deteriorated so much that most parts of the country are now being threatened by non-state armed men with various nomenclatures like Bandits, Boko Haram, Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), Kidnappers and Unknown Gunmen. According to reports, ISWAP and Boko Haram insurgents having occupied some territories in the North East of the country are now encroaching into Abuja and the rest of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Bandits continuous raid on villages fuelled with kidnapping of helpless villagers in the North West States of Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi, have continued unchallenged. The abduction of road users on the Abuja – Kaduna highway has been a major concern, bearing in mind that some of the March 2022 passengers of the Abuja – Kaduna bound train are still in captivity.
Recently, Kuje Medium Security Correctional Facility in Abuja was raided by the insurgents leading to the release of high-profile terrorists from the prison without strong resistance from security personnel, despite 45 security reports and warnings of the imminent attack. Terrorists have threatened to kidnap President Muhammadu Buhari and other high-profile politicians. Pockets of violence and killings have equally occurred within a short time of the latter: the attack on the Nigerian Army Presidential Guards Brigade in Bwari Area council, FCT, and the attack on the military check point around Zuma Rock bordering FCT and Niger State.
Situation Room notes with concern that the farmer-herder clashes have continued unabated as herdsmen continue to unleash mayhem in the North Central, South East and South West of the country. Unknown Gun Men continue to attack government facilities with pockets of violence and killings in the South East. The South West is also not safe from assailants who have attacked places of worship and communities. Kidnapping for ransom seems to be the order of the day across the country with citizens living in fear and some businesses hindered.
NIGERIA’S ECONOMIC OUTLOOK:
The economy is at its lowest ebb as the purchasing power of Nigerians has dwindled in the face of galloping inflation. Basic domestic commodities, power, energy and transportation are out of reach for the average Nigerian. National unemployment rate according to the National Bureau of Statistics stands at 33.3% while unemployment of the youths is 42.5%. The steady fall of the Naira is alarming, at an all-time low in the Nation’s history with no clear steps indicated by the Central Bank of Nigeria on how to rescue the Naira. Situation Room also notes the heavy depletion of the Excess Crude Account which ought to serve as a cushion to help stabilise the country’s economy.
PROLONGED ASUU STRIKE AND THREAT ON SCHOOLS:
It is disappointing that despite the two weeks ultimatum given to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu by President Buhari, to resolve the prolonged strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) the Government has failed to reach a resolution. Indeed, the strike has been extended by another month.
Threats of attack on Federal Government owned schools by terrorists have forced the Federal Government of Nigeria to order the closure of private and public schools in Abuja, a development that hinders the ongoing third-term examination in the schools and the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) by the National Examinations Council (NECO). Nasarawa State Government has also ordered the closure of schools in their State. Furthermore, the venue of Call to Bar of the Nigerian Law School in Bwari, Abuja, was changed due to threats of attack on the law school.
UPCOMING 2023 GENERAL ELECTION:
Current politicking and political alignments call for caution as the country progresses to the 2023 General Elections. There are concerns that politicians have not desisted from stoking ethno-religious rhetoric ahead of the election. Instead of basing their campaigns on issues that will benefit the citizens, supporters of candidates have resorted to rhetoric that have focused on personalities, insults, mudslinging and smearing especially online. With the beginning of campaigns a few months away, it becomes important for citizens to make demands on candidates and political parties to state issues of focus for their campaigns to enable citizens to hold them to account on their being elected.
Situation Room has received reports of a tedious registration process in the just concluded Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) despite the Independent National Electoral Commission’s assurances of a seamless process. Situation Room further notes that the CVR which ended on 31st July 2022 will leave many willing Nigerians disenfranchised from the 2023 polls even when the Commission can stretch itself a bit more to continue registering voters.
Situation Room therefore makes the following calls:
- The entire security architecture of the country should be rejigged by President Muhammadu Buhari to combat the worrisome expansion of insecurity in the country. The Service Chiefs should be removed, and new people appointed with a clear mandate to deliver at a particular time or be equally removed like their predecessors. Perhaps, a lot has not been achieved because there has been no seriousness in tasking the security agencies to deliver and the political will do so.
- A thorough investigation into the jailbreak in Kuje Medium Security Correctional Facility should be carried out, and those responsible for guarding the Prison should be relieved of their duties, starting from the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
- The National Assembly should intensify their oversight function on the Executive beyond threats of impeachment of the President. The National Assembly should also exude that they are representatives of the people by protecting and representing their interests.
- The Senate should carry out a thorough background check and scrutiny of the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari, to allay any political party affiliation or alignment by any of the nominees.
- The Minister of Education should resolve the persistent industrial action by ASUU so that students can return to school or resign for a more competent hand to tackle the challenges.
- The Federal Government should activate steps to address the current economic challenges, alarming unemployment, plummeting exchange rate and financial hardship on the citizens, and desist from increasing and introducing new taxes on Nigerians notably the proposed 5% inclusive excise duty on telecommunications services in Nigeria, raising the tax to 12.5%.
- Situation Room calls for the removal of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele to save the current deteriorating status and state of the CBN.
- INEC should extend the CVR for another two months to accommodate more prospective voters as there is still a window for extension in accordance with the Electoral Act, 2022.
- President Muhammadu Buhari should wake up to his responsibilities of steering the affairs of the nation in the areas of security and economic restoration which will rebuild the confidence of citizens by reassuring Nigerians of his ability to govern Nigeria or should honourably resign if the challenges are overwhelming.
10. Lastly, Situation Room calls on Nigerian citizens to put their State Governors to task and demand accountability for their actions or inactions regarding the State of the Nation. Each citizen has certain responsibility and obligations that relate to active participation in society and government.
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SIGNED:
Ene Obi
Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
Asma’u Joda
Co-Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
James Ugochukwu
Co-Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
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The Situation Room is made up of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working in support of credible and transparent elections in Nigeria numbering more than seventy. The Steering Committee is made up of: Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), CLEEN Foundation, Action Aid Nigeria, Centre for Women and Adolescent Empowerment, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), African Centre for Entrepreneurship and Information Development (ACEIDEV), Justice Development and Peace Commission (JPDC) Nnewi, ASPILOS Foundation, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Mac-Jim Foundation, Kimpact Development Initiative, Democratic Action Group (DAG), Women’s Rights to Education Programme, EDO CSOs, Young Innovators and Vocational Training Initiative (YVITI), New Initiative for Social Development (NISD). Other groups are Centre LSD, CISLAC, WARD-C, Proactive Gender Initiative (PGI), Enough is Enough Nigeria, WANGONET, JDPC, YIAGA Africa, Development Dynamics, Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN), Stakeholder Democracy Network, Human Rights Monitor, Reclaim Naija, CITAD, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR,) Nigerian Women Trust Fund, The Albino Foundation, Alliance for Credible Elections (ACE), Electoral Hub etc
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