The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, convened a meeting with ministers on Wednesday to discuss the proposed nationwide protest against the economic hardships faced by Nigerian youths.
According to Plateau News, the meeting was held in a confidential setting and involved key members of President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
Ministers in attendance included Nyesom Wike (Federal Capital Territory), Yusuf Tuggar (Foreign Affairs), Zephaniah Jisalo (Special Duties), Tahir Mamman (Education), and Abubakar Bagudu (Budget and Planning).
Other notable participants were Wale Edun (Finance), Mohammed Idris (Information), Bello Matawalle (Defence), David Umahi (Works), and the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu.
The meeting aimed to address concerns related to the upcoming protest, which has gained significant traction on social media under the banner ‘EndBadGovernance’ and is scheduled for August.
The protest, planned to occur across all states of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, reflects widespread frustration over escalating food prices, basic commodity costs, and severe economic hardships intensified by the government’s recent policy decisions to abolish petrol subsidies and unify forex windows.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier called on Nigerians to postpone the protest, emphasizing the need for dialogue and understanding amidst the ongoing economic challenges.
The organizers of the protest remain unidentified, adding an element of uncertainty to the government’s response and strategy in handling the situation.
The ministers’ meeting underscores the administration’s recognition of the urgent need to address the grievances of Nigerian youths and the broader population, who are struggling with the effects of inflation and economic instability.
As the meeting was still in progress at the time of reporting, further developments and official statements are anticipated to outline the government’s approach to mitigating the planned protest and addressing the underlying economic issues.