A pro-democracy youth group and civil society organisation have applauded Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State for his latest interventions to mitigate economic hardship.
The commendation was contained in a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary
of Youth Bureau, Saheed Adegboyega and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.
Gov. Sanwo-Olu had announced three working days per week for the State public service workers; provision of hundred trailers of rice for 300,000 households; subsidy on some drugs; 25% transport rebate and re-introduction of Sunday Market for subsidized goods at selected places.
The statement described the Governor’s initiatives to alleviate the attendant economic challenges of Lagosians as exceptional and testament of a man who is endowed with a purple heart, and sensitive enough to the plights of citizens.
Noting that while many public office occupiers are prevaricating and perambulating, the Lagos State Governor in his usual characteristic manner rapidly responded to peculiar challenges of the people with audacious initiatives to alleviate economic challenges in the state.
Gov. Sanwo-Olu further was urged to ensure social reliefs and interventions are enjoyed by all irrespective of creed, religion, tribes, social status or partisan affiliations; as well as sustainability of the social intervention.
The youth group expressed confidence in the Federal Government’s efforts to reform the nation’s economy, while enjoining all Nigerians to embrace altruistic patriotism to pay the price with sacrifices, to turn around Nigeria’s economy for good.
Adding that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration is working hard to solve problems caused by yester years of unbridled corruption in governance, insensitive, maladministration, profligate wastages and, global economic meltdown.
Part of the statement reads:
“It is instructive to note that while many public office occupiers are prevaricating and parambulating, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide SanwoOlu his usual characteristic manner in rapid response to peculiar challenges has announced an audacious initiative to alleviate the attendant economic challenges of Lagosians. These include: three working days per week for the State public service workers; provision of hundred trailers of rice for 300,000 households; subsidy on some drugs; 25% transport rebate and re-introduction of Sunday Market for subsidized goods at selected places.
“We unequivocally applaud this palpably humanistic gesture of Governor SanwoOlu. It eloquently shows that beyond the steel-like allurements of public office, the Governor is endowed with a purple heart, sensitive enough to the plights of citizens to take actions for the alleviation of their social existence.
“We know the Governor will never blink his gaze in ensuring that these social intervention initiatives will really get to the intended and desired beneficiaries – the socially alienated, marginalized, poor masses of Lagos State. We are not unmindful of the shenanigans of powerful cabals who may scheme to corner these interventions for personal aggrandizements.
“This is an expression of gestures by the Governor to ensure these social reliefs and interventions are enjoyed by all irrespective of creed, religion, tribes, social status or partisan affiliations. Vulnerable members of the society, infants (for drugs), aged, physically challenged, unemployed, and women will be given premium priorities.
“We urge the Governor to sustain his usual veritable network to reach the civic trenches stakeholders in this process. Community Development Associations and Faith-Based Bodies such that the Rice palliatives will percolate down to disadvantaged households in our neighborhoods and communities; the state workforce are vital to maximizing the 3-Days working schedules of public servants; Medical and Pharmaceutical Associations are essential elements to prevent life-saving drugs from reaching shelves of commercial drug chemists; Transporters’ Unions and Informal Sector Workers are important for the Transportation Rebate schemes , just as Traders Associations and Civil Society Organizations are the watchdogs for the Subsidized Goods Special Markets.
“We are apt to observe that the socio-economic reforms of the Federal Government are inevitable if we must come out of economic duodenum and social quagmire. It is fostered on us by entrenched, unbridled corruption in governance, insensitive, maladministration of past governments, policy summersaults, profligate wastages and, global economic meltdown crisis. However, we are confident that all Nigerians embrace altruistic patriotism to pay the price with sacrifices, there would be light at the end of the tunnel. Indeed, the history of mankind taught us the validity of the maxim, ” No Pain, No Gains”.
“We must all remain eternally vigilant as many ” Economic Saboteurs” are on the prowl like Vultures to feed on these social, palliative interventions. For instance, the Government must wield sledge hammers against merchandise and currency speculators if we must stem the tides of stagflation.”
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