BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
Civil Societies Coalition in Osun State has threatened to organise a massive protest if the Federal Government fails to better the lives of the citizens within one week.
While reacting, following the recent petrol subsidy removal, naira float and other reforms of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, the group, in a statement on Thursday, signed by its Chairman, Waheed Lawal, recommended a pause in interest rate hikes to relieve the pressures on economic agents.
The group urged the government to implement fiscal measures such as reducing/removing the tax on basic food items to protect the most vulnerable as well as spur demand side growth.
OCSC also implored the government to hasten the provision of the anticipated palliatives to lessen the impact of the rising trend in prices on economic agents.
The civil societies coalitions, however, stated that they would lead mass of the people out on the streets for a protest if the government fails to resolve all issues with one week.
According to the statement, “We wish to state that while we demand speedy response from the Federal Government on the roll out of palliative to cushion effect of the removal of subsidy and biting economic reality, we also demand that the Osun State government go beyond empathy and promises to rolling out measures to make life liveable for the people as several other states of the federation has done.
“Without intention to threaten, we want to state categorically that failure for the issues raised above to be looked into between now and the next one week, and the needful done, we shall be leading the mass of the people out on the street for a protest and nothing shall deter us till we achieve victory since that seems to be one language that the government understands.
“We appeal to our people to remain calm and resilient with hope that these pains shall bring forth joy and Nigeria shall rise again.”