Afenifere Calls on Federal Government, Labour Unions, and Citizens to Collaborate on Solutions to Current Challenges

By Milcah Tanimu

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organization, Afenifere, has issued a statement urging the Federal Government, labor unions, and citizens to work together in addressing the current challenges facing the country. While advocating for a proactive approach to ease the hardships, Afenifere emphasizes the need to avoid mass protests.

In the press release, Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, outlined suggestions to alleviate the prevailing issues, foster public relief, and guide the nation toward economic recovery. The organization acknowledged recent protests across the country and called for collaborative efforts to prevent further unrest.

Afenifere highlighted specific responsibilities for the federal government, leaders at various levels, the public, and organized labor to avert strikes and protests. Among the recommendations is a call for President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to promote the patronage of locally made products by government agencies and officials.

The organization also proposed temporary measures, such as the importation of essential food items to address immediate shortages, coupled with a focus on ramping up local agricultural production. Additionally, Afenifere emphasized the importance of addressing insecurity, suggesting the establishment of State and Local Government Police and the enforcement of anti-open grazing laws.

Afenifere encouraged President Tinubu to engage more with the public, emphasizing the importance of transparent communication to bridge the gap between the government and the people. The organization suggested cost-cutting measures for government offices to build public trust and instill hope in the face of challenges.

Expressing confidence that these initiatives could prevent planned protests in late February, Afenifere called for sincerity and cooperation from all stakeholders. The organization cited positive sentiments from various quarters, including the Christian Association of Nigeria, expressing hope that collective efforts would lead to positive change. Afenifere urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community influencers to collaborate in reshaping societal perspectives through direct engagement with government representatives, emphasizing the need for a collective effort to bring about meaningful change.