Vice-President Kashim Shettima on Sunday urged Nigerians to apply discretion in protesting the current economic hardship country, asking them to do so “in a responsible and mature manner.”
Upon assuming office nine months ago, the Tinubu administration discontinued subsidies on petrol, which, it said, would save the government monies for infrastructural expansion.
It also unified the foreign exchange rates, moves that sparked collateral instability in the value of the Naira and heaped hardship on Nigerians as food prices continued to soar.
Consequently, the Organised Labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, have called for at least four strikes and several protests against what they called the government’s failure to provide adequate measures to cushion the hardship.
However, the Vice President called for caution amid demonstrations.
“We expect that Nigerians should express their feelings over our circumstances in a responsible and mature manner. We are also a deeply religious people, and we believe in the powers of faith and prayers,” Shettima said during the 29th pre-Ramadan lecture organised by the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni in Lagos.
The lecture is themed, “Economic Reforms for Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects for the Future.”
Represented by his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the Vice-President also warned Nigerians about “severe” economic challenges as they approach the holy month.
He appealed to citizens not to interpret the hardship as the government’s attempt to punish them.
“The leadership of President Tinubu recognizes that this Ramadan will come with severe challenges for most Nigerians.
“The road to where we are today was long and full of missed opportunities and tragic failures to build on our great potential.
“The consequences of our past are the stark realities we face today, such as rising cost of living and pessimism over our prospect to turn round our economy in the direction of growth and inclusive development,” he said.
Shettima argued that the country does not “have the choice of continuing in the direction that brought us where we are today.”
He stressed, “We have to fix this country, and failure to do this is not an option. All the options we have are difficult and challenging, and they are, without a doubt, more telling on the poor. If there were easier and reliable alternatives to the policy choices we have adopted, we would have adopted them.
“Our administration does not plan to make the lives of Nigerians more difficult. Nor do we intend to deceive fellow citizens that the change in direction and the expected outcome can be achieved without pain or sacrifices.
“We are also acutely aware that ours is a set of related Nigerian problems, and the solutions we seek must be genuinely informed by a Nigerian context, not the experiences of others or the preferences of special foreign interests which are removed from consequences of missteps or errors of judgement.”
He appealed to the alumni to “help make space for” the administration to achieve the goal of turning the nation around.
“As products of a distinguished institution, we have learnt that progress is only possible if it is informed by criticism and critical scrutiny.
“Let us be reminded that Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala tests His servants with ease and hardship, and He asks that we pray to Him for relief from hardship, and discipline in times of abundance.
“I join you in praying that Allah will grant us the privilege of undertaking our Ramadan fast as prescribed by Him, and we shall receive the reward,” said the VP.
