CHRICED Makes Accountability Call

Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has called on Nigerians to begin to demand accountability in governance.

Development Diaries reports that CHRICED, in a statement, noted that it is not too early for Nigerians to start demanding accountability from the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu took charge of the Nigerian government on 29 May, 2023, from Muhammadu Buhari, who led the country for eight years as president.

In his inaugural speech, he affirmed that his administration would not continue to pay subsidy on petroleum products, adding that there was no provision for it in the 2023 Appropriation Act from June.

The 16th Nigerian leader and the country’s seventh president also said that given the high opportunity cost, the federal government was suffering to fund subsidies.

As a result, commercial drivers across many cities in Nigeria, including Abuja, have increased their fares as one litre of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol, is now N537 in Abuja and not less than N488 nationwide.

Transport fares have jumped by over 100 percent, depending on the routes, as Nigerians experience another hardship.

‘Notwithstanding its infancy, we are firmly of the opinion that it is not too early to demand accountability from the Tinubu presidency’, CHRICED Executive Director, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, said in the statement.

‘Also, it is not too early for Nigerians to start asking difficult questions. Just as the President stated during his campaign, “political power is not served à la carte in restaurants”, Nigerians must realise that effective, participatory, and inclusive governance, along with all the associated benefits, will not be served à la carte.

‘People must fight for it by demanding accountability; this lesson should have been thoroughly learned during the extremely difficult eight years of Buhari in office.

‘Therefore, Nigerians have the right to enquire about the government’s strategies for combating corruption and preventing its debilitating impacts on development outcomes. If public finances were effectively administered, there would be sufficient funds to meet the needs of every Nigerian’.

CHRICED further pleaded with Nigerians to be on high alert against unpatriotic individuals dressed as politicians who are plainly committed to harming the welfare and well-being of the Nigerian people.

Photo source: CHRICED

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