AMID soaring poverty levels, ActionAid Nigeria, AAN, has asked the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, to take urgent measures after swearing in on May 29 to curb hardship of Nigerians.
Among the suggestions ActionAid submitted were backtracking on borrowing spree, auditing the electioneering process and funding security agencies.
The Board of Trustees, BoT, AAN, made the call in a statement by Board Chair, Dr Jummai Umar-Ajijola, after a review of state of the nation at her 49th meeting held in Abuja.
“In the long term, Nigeria must invest in domestic refining capacity, diversify the economy to reduce dependence on oil, and promote alternative energy sources.
“The Federal and state governments, INEC, CSOs (Civil Society Organisations), and all stakeholders involved in Nigeria’s electioneering must work together to audit the entire election process from the beginning to the end.
“This must include a national debate to address all the critical challenges that still confront our electoral process to ensure more transparency and help to build peoples’ confidence in the democratic process.
Backtrack on borrowing spree
“The Federal Government must backtrack on her borrowing spree and proffer workable and sustainable solutions to grow the economy rather than a fixation on distributing $16 per person for two years, which will have minimal or no impact in lowering the cost of living and poverty.