•Asks Tinubu to repeat Abacha, Jonathan’s PTF, SURE-P schemes
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has referred to as on all tiers of presidency in Nigeria to take concrete and focused steps to mainstream social justice into all processes, mechanisms and devices of governance.
The organisation whereas alleging President Bola Tinubu has nothing to point out for his gasoline subsidy removing, requested the current administration to repeat the late Gen. Sani Abacha’s Petroleum Belief Fund and former President Goodluck Jonathan’s SURE-P created to melt the hardship of removing of gasoline subsidy.
The decision was made in commemoration of the World Day of Social Justice 2024 with theme: “”Bridging Gaps, Constructing Alliances.”
The CSJ, in a press release yesterday, by its Lead Director, Eze Onyekpere, stated the theme indicated that there was no higher time than now for the federal government to bridge the hole of accelerating poverty, starvation and degraded dwelling circumstances occasioned by the rising price of dwelling.
Onyekpere additionally stated: “That is additionally the time to bridge the inequality hole in opposition to the background of the ostentatious and opulent life of prime stage public servants and elected officers. Whereas the common Nigerian has been subjected to distress, the ruling class experience a contest to mismanage and abuse public assets.
“With elevated assets accessible to the three tiers of presidency arising from the removing of gasoline subsidy and floatation of the Naira, there was a public expectation underneath the Renewed Hope Agenda that these new assets could be invested for the general public good in training, well being, housing, roads and different infrastructure.
“Slightly than investing the assets to bridge the hole between the wealthy and the poor and construct a nationwide alliance and consensus for improvement, the leaders have cornered all of the assets for his or her private achieve as there may be nothing to point out for the elevated assets accessible to the federal government.
“Guarantees of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu period had remained pipe goals and none has been fulfilled.”
He famous that the Abacha presidency period had the Petroleum Belief Fund whereas the Goodluck Jonathan period had SURE-P for the funding of gasoline subsidy removing good points, however lamented that, “the Bola Ahmed Tinubu presidency has nothing to point out. Slightly, we’ve witnessed a bloating of the price of governance and frivolous expenditure.”
He added: “The three arms of presidency haven’t demonstrated any sense of patriotism to bridge the hole of injustice, inequality and poverty in Nigeria. “On the a part of the judiciary, we’ve witnessed the brazen try of senior judges to put in/appoint their relations by all means as judges of the assorted courts.
“The manager and legislature have refused to chop down the price of governance and re-channel the majority of the general public assets to cushion the results of poverty.
“It’s alarming, that within the face of the present hardship plaguing the nation, the President nonetheless maintains a bloated retinue of employees with elevated personnel price, whereas the legislators went on a spending spree within the procurement of SUVs value 160 million every for its members.
“The legislature additionally scandalously elevated its funds. The federal government refuses to pay the promised wage award of N35,000 to civil servants whereas the minimal wage nonetheless stays a paltry N30,000.”
He added: “We name on the federal government to make use of this event to mirror on implementing life-saving measures that may bridge the hole of inequality skilled by 133 million multi dimensionally poor Nigerians.
“It isn’t too late for the federal authorities to overview and course right on its stringent insurance policies such because the removing of gasoline subsidy and the floating of the naira which has resulted in run-away inflation and excessive price of dwelling.”
