From MUSLIUDEEN ADEBAYO, Ibadan
A human rights group, Save the Poor and Needy Charity Initiative (SPANCI) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to find ways of solving the current economic crisis bedevilling the country before people begin to die on the streets.
SPANCI advised Tinubu and the National Assembly to find ways of bringing relief and succour to reduce the hardship Nigerians are facing as a result of inflation, insecurity and scarcity of essential goods across the country.
The group noted that the level of hardship in the country and its effect on the economy and people is unbearable.
SPANCI made these declarations via an open letter signed by its President, Comrade Yemi Ezekiel Bello and addressed to Tinubu and the National Assembly.
Bello, in the letter made available to journalists on Tuesday in Ibadan, appealed to Tinubu, the Senate President, Goodswill Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abass, to immediately intervene and act now before people begin to die on streets.
He advised them to take necessary adjustments in bringing down the hardship, because the effects of the hardship in the country is unbearable.
Bello further maintained that the cost and prices of consumables and other commodities in the market has gone up beyond reach of the ordinary Nigerian.
He said that this has brought life threatening hardships on people as people die easily now, considering the cost of medical treatment.
“Act now before people begin to die on the streets. The effects of the hardship are unbearable. We in Save the Poor and Needy Charity Initiative (SPANCI), hereby humbly say that the hardship in the country and its effect on the economy and people is unbearable.
“We therefore appeal to Mr President and the National Assembly to immediately intervene and act now before people begin to die on the streets and make necessary adjustment in bringing down the hardship, because the effects of the hardship in the country are unbearable.
“We wish to say that the cost and prices of consumables and other commodities in the market have gone up beyond reason and this has brought life threatening hardships on people. People die easily now considering the cost of medical treatment and sustainability for those with medical needs. And hunger has killed and may still kill more if immediate solution is not provided.
“A situation where a bag of rice is sold for almost eighty thousand Naira, a bag of yam flour is sold for about two hundred thousand Naira, gari Oyo for one thousand Naira, a bag of cement is now around eight thousand Naira, roofing sheets is about one hundred thousand, petrol, six hundred and forty naira, cooking gas one thousand three hundred naira per kg, will bring more hardship on people. Our economy needs urgent attention.
“We will also like your Excellency to immediately increase the salary of workers to conform with the present economy and as well as improve the welfare of our security operatives.
“ We humbly request our National Assembly to cut down their salary and make other necessary adjustments, considering the fact that they are representing the masses and people of their constituency and use the money to improve the welfare of their people. This will reduce the rate of kidnapping, banditry and armed robbery. They should act now before people begin to die on streets according to section 14 (1) (2) (a) and (b) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended”
