A Non-Governmental Organization, Muslim Media Watch of Nigeria has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for challenging the State Governors on prioritization of the peoples’ welfare and well-being over and above white elephant projects being executed in their States…
The Group recalled President made the call better governance in the States again last week while receiving some Traditional Rulers from Oyo State led by the Olubadan of Ibadan Oba Rasheed Oladoja who came to thank him on the success achieved in securing the release of the kidnapped Principal, Teachers and students of Orire Local Government of the State.
It quoted the President to have said building of fly-overs across states where they are not necessary is a waste of public funds. Instead he said, they should look into better ways of helping the less-privileged and the poor in their States so as to relieve them of their economic burdens.
Reacting to the President’s call to the Governors, the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria – a Body of Muslim Media Professionals and others in various disciplines – said construction of Airports, fly-overs, and other white elephant projects in States are misplaced priorities and urged them to respond positively to Mr. President’s call for better delivery of dividends of democracy to the people.
Rising from an Extraordinary Meeting of the Group in Ilorin- Kwara State, the Media Group appealed to the President Tinubu to detail the National Economic Council (NEC) under the leadership of the Vice-President Senator Kashim Shettima to table the issues of good governance before the Governors with special emphasis on the following areas that would benefit the masses.
These include clearance of all outstanding entitlements of all public servants who have retired from their States as done by President Bola Tinubu for Federal Public Servants, cancellation of school fees in all Public Primary and Secondary Schools in all States and drastic reduction of tuition fees being paid in all Tertiary Institutions owned by State Governments.
Other areas of genuine welfare for the people include revival or setting-up of Mass Transportation by Road System for the people in their Cities and inter-city transportation to force-down the cost of transportation.
The Group also called the Governors set-up effective security network to complement other Security Agencies for the protection farmers and their farmlands as well as the generality of people from frequent criminals attacks.
All these are contained In the Press Statement released by the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria today which was jointly signed by the National Coordinator of the Group Alh. Ibrahim Abdullahi and the National Secretary Dr. Nasir Balogun.
According to the statement, since 2023, FAAC Monthly Allocations have increased tremendously as a result of withdrawal of petroleum subsidy, which has given Federal and States greater financial resources.
The Group maintained that non-payment of States’ retirees their full entitlements after 35 years of service is inhuman and condemnable as some States that take the least FAAC Monthly Allocations now receive up to N14 Billion Naira monthly, pointing out that that all retirees up to 2025 must be paid, and pension and gratuities must henceforth be paid as at when public officers are leaving the service to prevent future accumulation of unpaid entitlements.
On the forthcoming election, the Group appealed to the Nigerian masses to ensure that they troop out in large number to vote for the candidates of their choice – pointing out that good governance at the State and Local Governments level is vital to their future well-being than the white elephants projects being embarked upon in most States of the Federation…
On Security, the Group commended the President and the Security Organizations for the success achieved so far, it however urged the Military to use the newly established Military Formations to exterminate all the non-state actors still terrorising Nigeria especially in Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Katsina, Benue and all parts of the North East so that peace and stability could return to the Country.
