The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), a prominent Northern advocacy group, has expressed concern over several policies implemented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, attributing them to the worsening standard of living, inflation, and unemployment in Nigeriam,Daily Trust reports.
Following its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Kaduna on Tuesday, the ACF warned that the economic hardships could lead to social unrest, particularly in the northern region, if unaddressed.
The forum highlighted the increasing difficulties faced by ordinary citizens, who are grappling with inflation, unemployment, and declining living standards, alongside ongoing issues of insurgency, terrorism, and banditry.
In a communiqué signed by the ACF National Spokesman, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the forum lamented that these challenges have become dire, acute, and chronic, especially in the North. The ACF pointed to the removal of fuel subsidies and the introduction of new taxes and levies by the federal government as major contributors to the declining living conditions.
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The communiqué stated, “With grave concern, NEC decries the continuing deterioration or escalation in the spate of insecurity-related incidents in all three geopolitical zones under which the northern states are grouped. These problems reflect on the region’s cascading political, social, and economic challenges. NEC reiterates ACF’s earlier expressed position that the emergent protracted dimension of these problems, if untamed, are harbingers of citizens’ discontent and social chaos.”
The forum also expressed worry about the growing regional disparities in access to education, healthcare, infrastructure, economic inclusion, political participation, and overall living conditions. The ACF urged the government to address these disparities to prevent further division within the country and to promote unity.
Reiterating its previous calls, the ACF emphasized the need for urgent and decisive action from all levels of government to address the rapid decline in living conditions. The forum criticized the addition of new taxes and levies, describing them as increasingly burdensome for ordinary Nigerians. It called for public policy programs to enhance purchasing power.
The ACF acknowledged efforts by federal, state, and local governments to tackle these issues but criticized the overall response as weak and ineffective. The forum called on citizens to support the government and pray for divine intervention to bring about a prosperous Nigeria characterized by justice, equity, love, righteousness, and hope.
Additionally, the ACF urged public officials to avoid profligacy and reckless spending of public funds. It reiterated its support for Nigeria’s security agencies in their fight against criminality, insecurity, and instability, expressing hope that they would soon prevail over insurgents, terrorists, and bandits. The forum concluded with prayers for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
