By Cross Udo, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has urged the aggrieved Nigerian youths planning a national protest over the high cost of leaving to shelve the planned action, saying there is no need for it.
The President also assured those behind the planned national protest that he has heard their grievances and is working seriously to ensure that all their concerns are addressed.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, conveyed the President’s plea while speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The Minister said that at the meeting with the President, general issues on the country were discussed and the President said he was working assiduously to ensure that the country’s economy is placed in a good position.
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He said, “We discussed the issue of the country generally and Mr. President has asked me to again inform Nigerians that he listens to them, especially the young people that are trying to protest.
“Mr President is listening to them, he takes what they say seriously and he is working assiduously to ensure that this country is good, not just for today, but also for the future.
“The issue of the planned protest, Mr. President does not see any need for that, he’s asked them to shelve that plan and he’s asked them to await the government’s response to all their pleas.
“He has listened to them, like I said, and a lot is happening. Only today, the National Assembly has expeditiously passed the Bill on National Minimum Wage, you can see how the President is working. It was transmitted only yesterday (Monday), and today (Tuesday), it has been passed.
“A lot of other interventions that the President has put in place are also going to be looked at expeditiously, in the interest of Nigerians.
“So there’s no need for a strike, the young people out there should listen to the President and allow the President more time to see to the realization of all the goodies he has for them.”
Idris highlighted other policies put in place by the government to cushion the effect of hardship Nigerians are feeling in town.
He said that the Federal Government approved grains and rice for state governments, which he said had been delivered expeditiously, stressing that it was just the first step.
Continuing, he said, “Highlights of other policies to cushion the effect of the hardship Nigerians are feeling in town:
“For example, you saw that the federal government approved grains and rice for state governments, it was delivered to them expeditiously also. Like I said that time, it is just the necessary first step, government is going to continue in that direction, supporting them and ensuring that whatever interventions the federal government has put in place go to those that should benefit.
“It is very important that is being put out. The federal government is looking at strategies that every intervention would go directly to those who benefit from those interventions, not middlemen intervening along the way.
“Number two, you heard about the student loan board that was launched by the President, Mr. President is very passionate about deepening that. Everyone that should go to school will have the opportunity to go to school.
“It is no longer a time for all of us to stay back and see our young able-bodied men and women that have passed the examinations to go to tertiary institutions that have not been able to do that because their parents are not able to pay for their fees.
“This is a thing of the past, the government is very desirous of ensuring that happens. You know the provision that was made to the NELFUND, already we have more than what is required today and the more the people are requiring that, the more the President will also give.
“There is also the intervention the President is working out for those young men and women who have finished school, but who are yet to get employed, post-NYSC for example, there is a scheme the government is perfecting now and that is also going to be pushed fast so that all those young men and women who have finished school, graduates of universities and polytechnics that are unable to get jobs, they will continue to be supported by the government until such a time that those jobs are offered to them.
“The whole idea is that no one is left behind, it’s an all-inclusive government and the President is determined to ensure that no one is left behind in this his attempt to march Nigeria towards progress.”
The Information Minister, who described his meeting with the President as a regular one that all ministers hold with him, said he also discussed issues concerning the NTA (Nigerian Television Authority), FRCN (Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria), NAN (News Agency of Nigeria) and VON (Voice of Nigeria).
He said, “First, it’s a regular meeting that all ministers hold with the President, I met with him and discussed with him, especially in areas under my supervision; the issue of NTA, for example, FRCN, NAN and VON.
“We have discussed all that and we have also arrived at situations that will help their position as public information platforms of the country. They should be in the forefront and they are, we are doing everything possible to make sure that they are being repositioned so that they can serve Nigeria very well.”
