The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has clarified President Bola Tinubu’s stance on protests.
The minister said that while the President supports the right to peaceful protest, he is firmly against violence.
Idris spoke during a courtesy visit from the Charismatic Bishop Conference to his ministry in Abuja on Wednesday.
Idris underscored the government’s recognition of the rights of Nigerians to protest, within the bounds of the law.
The minister said, “You see, the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu believes in the freedom of everyone within the confines of the law to do what he thinks is right for him.
“Therefore, the President is not an opponent of protest of any kind but the President is an opponent of violence and anything that will negatively hamper the wellbeing of Nigerians.
“He believes and has always been saying that within the tenets of democracy, you have every right to do whatever you want to do provided that right does not infringe on another person’s right.
“Why everybody is very cautious and very weary of this national protest is because we have seen what has happened around the world.
“We know that it’s almost impossible to hold this protest and then have peace at the end of the day. We cannot do that because some people are waiting to take the laws into their own hands.”
He stressed that while protests are a democratic right, there is a risk of them being exploited by those seeking to disrupt public order.
Idris assured that President Tinubu is attuned to the genuine concerns of Nigerians and is actively working on policies to address these issues.
One significant upcoming initiative is aimed at supporting unemployed graduates.
“But beyond that, there is also another new policy that the President has formulated, which will begin to be seen very soon.
That is, all young men and women who have finished universities and polytechnics and have certificates and have done their mandatory NYSC and have not been able to get jobs, will have something from the government to keep them afloat until the time they get jobs,” he said.
The Minister also highlighted the President’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerian workers, noting the recent resolution with Organised Labour Unions which led to the establishment of a new national minimum wage of N70,000.
Furthermore, he discussed the introduction of the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) policy, which is expected to reduce transportation costs by about 60% and provide a viable alternative to petrol and diesel.
Additionally, Idris mentioned significant improvements in national security, particularly along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, which has seen a notable reduction in incidents since the Tinubu administration took office.
Archbishop Leonard Kawas, President General of the Charismatic Bishops Conference, during the visit, disassociated the conference from the planned national protest set for August 1, 2024.
He expressed the conference’s preference for peace and dialogue, urging aggrieved Nigerians to allow time for communication and negotiation with the government.
The archbishop said, “Your Excellency, recently we received some calls from some other religious organizations and other organizations asking us to join in preparation for a nationwide protest, which would start from 1st August 2024.
“We are here to let you know that we do not think the same. That we have rather decided to go all out and call for a truce.
“We have decided to sue for peace and humbly request that our brothers and sisters who are aggrieved in one way or the other, that they should give us some time while we continue to communicate and negotiate with this government on areas that are pertinent to them.”
Kawas acknowledged the progress made by the Tinubu administration in areas such as social investment, security, infrastructure, and the introduction of the N70,000 National Minimum Wage.
He also committed the conference to partnering with the federal government in prayers and advocacy for the administration’s success.
The Charismatic Bishop Conference used the occasion to present a Meritorious Service Award to the minister, recognizing his contributions and commitment to national development.
