The South East Coalition For Good Governance (SECG) has strongly condemned what it described it as “palliative and hand out economy” introduced by the President Bola Tinubu administration.
In a statement in Enugu signed by SECG President, Dennis Ohakwe and made available to INNONEWS, the group described the removal of fuel subsidy as a policy that has subjected Nigerians to hardship and forced them to rely on palliatives and various forms of economic hand outs to survive.
“Nigerians now feed like refugees, scramblers of food. Palliatives are more or less aid given to displaced persons in war-torn countries,” the statement read.
SECG noted that the sharing of palliatives has become a state policy in Nigeria, with public office holders, especially State Governors counting it as part of their achievements.
SECG emphasized that Nigerians do not need palliatives, but an enabling environment to work and earn a decent living.
“The resort to a hand out and palliative economy is not the desire of the generality of Nigerians, especially when they can work hard and earn, to enjoy the kind of lifestyle they want,” part of the statement said.
It described the ongoing protests across the country as a clear reflection of Nigerians’ frustration and suffering inflicted by the Tinubu administration’s policies such as removal of fuel subsidy and floating of the naira
“This policy has sunk the majority of the population into poverty and grinding hardship,” the group added.
SECG called on the government, at all levels to provide an enabling environment for Nigerians to excel and prosper rather than relying on palliatives and economic hand outs
“It’s pitiable that Nigerians have become beggars and scramblers of food in a country endowed with enormous resources. Sharing of palliatives by government to majority of its citizens is clear evidence that indeed many Nigerians have been subjected to extreme poverty levels.
“This is a sad development, which is unheard of and certainly not our way of life. It makes mockery of us as a nation blessed with abundant natural resources and enough food to consume.
“SECG call on President Bola Tinubu to as a matter of urgency reverse this unacceptable trend, and retake Nigeria and Nigerians on the path to economic prosperity” the statement concluded.