Civil society organisations under the aegis of Kano Civil Society Forum say they will not participate in the planned nationwide protest organised by the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, saying such labour demonstrations in the past did not achieve any desired result.
The President of the Forum, Amb. Ibrahim Adbullahi Waiya, made the disclosure on Tuesday while playing host to the delegation of Kano Association of Online Journalists, ASKOJ, led by chairman Yakubu Salisu who paid a courtesy call on his office in Kano.
He added that while the leadership of the NLC has not contacted the Forum about the planned protest, the Kano CSOs have resolved to shun the demonstration should the labour invited them.
Amb. Waiya said in place of a confrontational protest that could be easily infiltrated by criminal elements to cause civil unrest in the Country, CSOs in Kano were planning peaceful and result-oriented dialogue with Kano State government to provide succour to the sufferings the citizens are going through.
Waiya told journalists that his Forum has begun the process of engaging the government to constitute a Committee of Trustees with members from non-partisan groups and traditional institutions to come up with plans for palliative fund management and distribution food items that will trickle down to all the indigent citizens irrespective of their political party affiliation.
Amb. Waiya, who disclosed that Kano CSOs were in support of petroleum subsidy removal by President Bola Tinubu, assured that the Forum will advise the government on effective management of the palliative funds, food and other items provided to ameliorate the pains of Kano masses.
He said: “Our position is, let’s work with the state government to come up with quick intervention plans that will bring succour to the people.”
The NLC has said there was no going back on the protest and nationwide action to demand “ the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the federal government including the recent hike in the price of petrol, increase in public school fees, the release of eight months salary of university lecturers and workers”.
DAILY COMMERCE reports that President Tinubu announced some quick interventions on Monday nationwide broadcast, including the release of 200,000 metric tons of grains to states, ordering universities to stop further increment of school fees and pledge to provide necessarily intervention in the foreign exchange market, agriculture, manufacturing and financial sector at the appropriate time.
