Rep. Ademorin Kuye, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets, has called on all those planning a nationwide protest in August to have a rethink and embrace dialogue.
Kuye, who stated this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, appealed to the would-be protesters to engage the Federal Government in further dialogue.
He said the challenge facing the country is not lost on President Bola Tinubu and all stakeholders, adding that the National Assembly is urging all hands to be on deck to change the narrative.
According to him, the national Assembly would make necessary sacrifices and ensure economic retooling to bring succour and turn around the economic downturn in the country.
“We must understand that every change comes with its attendant demands and pains. But surely we will all smile and be happy for it when the benefits begin to pour in”, he said.
He said some of the government efforts to include the provision of massive infrastructural development, employment generation, student loan schemes.
Others include, the new minimum wage, financial autonomy for local government, removal of fuel subsidy with its resultant increase in revenue to States and Local Governments.
He said that some of these challenges would take time before Nigerians began to see the positive effects.
“I appeal that the youths should not engage in any protest that can have regrettable consequences on all of us’’, he said.
According to him, the proposed protest could drive away intended investors and thereby paint the country in bad light and further polarize the political landscape
“Let us embrace dialogue and peaceful negotiations just like the NLC and TUC, who were able to achieve the unimaginable and almost impossible new minimum wage for Nigeria workers”
Kuye said.
He said “Nowhere in the world has riot achieved any meaningful results other than destruction and regrets.”
“Declaring days of rage in a civil society is not protest but riots. This can only points to one motive, destruction and nothing more.
“I plead with our youths not to join hands with haters of Nigeria and embittered election losers who want to lapse on their genuine concern to unleash mayhem in the country”, he said. (NAN
