#EndSARS Protests: Govs Move Against Youth Restiveness, Blame Inequality

• Canvass more grassroots engagement, public education

BY EDMOND ODOK,  ABUJA – The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has warned that ignoring the simmering dangers of socio-economic inequality in the polity poses huge  risk to Nigeria’s peace, unity and progress.

Admitting that the unhealthy development is the bane of youth restiveness in the country, the governors have resolved to “adapt, at both the state and regional levels, guidelines to be developed and issued by the National Economic Council (NEC) Sub-Committee on Engagement to reduce restiveness among young people”.

According to the 36 Governors, given all the contending issues in the polity today, there is no denying the fact that “these agitations are attributable to social and economic inequality in the country.”

Therefore, they are determined to ensure that conscious efforts are geared towards robust partnership with the Federal Government and other stakeholders to effectively tackle existing and emerging challenges from #EndSARS campaigns.

Rising from its 21st virtual meeting on Wednesday, the NGF reviewed issues around the #EndSARS protests; the distribution of COVID-19 palliatives; and insecurity, among others.

In a communique issued by the NGF secretariat in Abuja, the NGF expressed its resolve to “engage with traditional, religious and civil society organisations to drive a common agenda and generate the required support for security personnel who play a vital role in ensuring the safety and the well-being of all Nigerians.”

The governors, who reiterated their commitment to work with the guidelines to be developed by the appropriate NEC Sub-committee, also agreed to undertake citizens’ enlightenment on the various palliatives provided by the states, including cash transfers, food items, medical supplies, and tax incentives.

The communique also highlighted that the NGF Vice Chairman and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, updated his colleagues on the NEC Sub-Committee mandate to engage with youths, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), religious, political and traditional leaders to draw up a new security architecture for the country.

The NEC sub-committee was set up following the NEC’s emergency meeting held on October 26, 2020.

“For presenting the true situation of what transpired in the light of the unfortunate misperception that attended the distribution of palliatives at the state level”, the Public Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) got kudos from the NGF members, who urged their Chairman and Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi to liaise with the CACOVID Chairperson on further public enlightenment.

Aside from the mandate for effective media partnership to address issues surrounding the controversial COVID-19 palliatives, the NGF also tasked themselves on the need for speaking up and upping grassroot citizens’ engagements within their domains.

Similarly, it was resolved that State Commissioners of Finance should urgently) sign the States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Subsidiary Grant Agreements with the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to give effect to the principles and objectives of the program in their states.

The communique further said the NGF Chairman, Fayemi updated members on the #ENDSARS protests, amplifying that tackling insecurity in the country remains a priority agenda for NGF’s members nationwide

Members also received briefings on Friday, October 30, 2020 meeting with Mr President and the leadership of Horasis the Global Visions Community, “conveying to members that the partnership with Horasis is envisaged to create a long-term strategic framework for Nigeria to be the African home for Horasis Annual Meetings in addition to establishing the Horasis-Nigeria Economic Development Council to assist the Government in the actualisation of its economic development goals.”

In addition, Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, who is the Chairman of the NGF Sub-Committee interfacing with the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, also briefed the Forum, and “raised concerns about the current low testing numbers in the country especially, in the light of the resurgence of COVID-19 cases globally.”

Members therefore encouraged themselves to increase their testing capacity in all local governments as part of measures aimed at preventing a second wave of the pandemic in the country flowing from imported cases by Nigerians returning from abroad.

Furthermore, the communique said Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State charged his colleagues on the need to have their State sign immediately the new SFTAS Subsidiary Grant Agreement to give effect to the principles and objectives of the new additions to the programme.

Also, the communiqué said governors received briefings from Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, on measures being taken by the 19 Northern state governors to address the challenges and fallouts arising from the EndSARS protests.