‘We will not participate in planned mass nationwide strike against hunger’ – Niger Stakeholders

The stakeholders made this known at a Town Hall Meeting on the state of the State Affairs, held on Thursday at Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Hall, Minna, the State’s Capital.

At the Town Hall meeting which was attended by the State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, his Deputy, Comr. Yakubu Garba, the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkin Daji, Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Halima Abdulmalik, Commissioner of Police, Heads of Security Agencies in the State, Members of National Youth Council of Nigeria, ( NYCN) Students Union Government (SUG) National Association of Niger State Students (NANISS), members of Artisan Association, Traditional leaders, Imams Forum and C A N as well as NLC, Vigilante group, Road Transport Union, Marketers Association and other critical stakeholders.

Governor Bago, observes that dialogue is a better path than protest, as he declares that Niger State youths are peaceful and will not be part of any protest.

“We have distanced ourselves from the nationwide protest because we are peaceful and want peace and tranquility. You can start a demonstration, but you cannot end the demonstration. To youths who are agitating for this protest, end the agitation, let us dialogue on the best way forward” the governor said.

Meanwhile, in a bid to bring succour to the people, the farmer Governor announced the release of 50,000 metric tons of assorted grains such as Rice, Maize, Guinea Corn, Millet and Beans to be sold at 50 per cent less than the current market price.

The Governor said committees would be set up to facilitate a comprehensive sales of food items, at the soon-to-be announced designated areas across all the 25 local government areas, as he called on security agencies, religious leaders and traditional leaders to ensure proper monitoring of the sales.

He said the food items are from the 100,000 metric tonnes of food in the State government reserve, adding that his administration intends to slash food price by 90 percent in the next few months, and reiterates that Agriculture is the way forward, as he calls on the people to engage in Agriculture for prosperity.

The Governor who declared his support for the local government autonomy, however enjoined them to serve the people diligently, as he announced N20,000 wage award to State and Local government civil servants, while revealing that they are allowed to buy and pay for the grains in four installments.

While appreciating the support of all Nigerlites to his administration, the farmer Governor appealed to them to continue to pray for him and President Tinubu to continue to implement policies that would engender development and bring succour to the people.

In his address, the Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, AbdulMalik Sarkin Daji commended the efforts of the Governor in providing purposeful leadership and assured him of the continued support of the State Assembly

He said a more rewarding programme would be organised to engage the youth rather than participate in the planned protest.

Representatives of other critical stakeholders including security agencies, religious leaders, traditional rulers, Organised labour, Youths, Civil Society Organizations and Inter-tribal among others in their separate submissions all agreed that protest is not the way to go, and hence, they will not participate in it.

They all commended the efforts of the Governor aimed at alleviating the sufferings of the people and urged him to continue to do more even as they assured him of their support for the success of his administration.