The federal government have been advised to channel funds removed from subsidy into providing some interventions in Agriculture, minimum wage, healthcare, education and subsidized production.
The call was part of recommendations by citizens, civil society organizations (CBOs), People Living With Disabilities, Unions, Professionals groups and traditional leaders, during a northern regional town hall meeting, held in Kano.
In his opening remarks, the Executive Director, Connected Development (CODE), Hamzat Lawal explained that, as citizens and stakeholders, the fuel subsidy removal had affected people at the grassroots level, hence the need to come together to proffer lasting solutions.
He described citizen’s engagement as a major catalyst to help improve their engagements in the northern region, states and communities and be more effective at promoting transparency and accountability.
In his presentation tagged: Understanding the NG cares initiative of federal government, financed by World Bank; the national Coordinator Nigeria COVID-19, action recovery and Economic stimulus NG-CARES, program Dr. Abdulkarim Obaje called for enforcement of Funds release policy to ensure timely release of palliatives.
“The fund should not stay more that 10 working days in the account of the state government and immediately be disbursed to the beneficiaries”.
He highlighted that, there’s the need for citizens to effectively monitor the subsidy savings and spendings to promote transparency and accountability at sub national level.
In his key note presentation titled: fuel subsidy Savings and other FG policies: How can citizens optimally benefit, Eze Onyekpere noted that, an infrastructure support fund had been set up by proclamation and can be used to alleviate suffering due to fuel subsidy removal.
He identified engagement of organized labour, private sector, professionals, women, information workers and the public in good faith disclosure and negotiations with relevant information and design a social intervention program to cushion the hardship.
Speaking during a panel discussion, the Falakin Bichi, Alhaji Abba Wada Waziri, emphasized the need for more efforts, by CIB, to ensure that palliatives are distributed at the grassroots level.
Others who spoke during the town hall meeting were Hajiya Mairo Bello from AHIP, Safiyanu Lawan Bichi from Kano budget working group, Fatima Musa Aliyu of Bridge connect Africa and representative from NYFF Gambo Yakubu.
The Town hall meeting themed “How citizens can best benefit from government policies, fuel subsidy, electricity social interventions” was organized by partnership for amplified voice (PAV), with support from World Bank.
The event brought together civil society organizations, media practitioners, traditional institutions, vulnerable groups, women groups, person with disabilities, youth groups, trade unions, private sector and civil society across 19 Northern States, to have diverse voices,and robust conversations for the development of an action plan.
KHADIJAH ALIYU
