According to a report from Voice of Nigeria, a diverse group of stakeholders in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria, has called on the Nigerian government to reassess its economic policies in view of the severe economic difficulties faced by average citizens.

The stakeholders, which include trade organizations, religious groups, farmers’ associations, advocates for people with disabilities, security personnel, and traditional leaders, made the call at a town hall meeting in Ilorin, the state capital.

The gathering was organised by the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement (North Central), Mrs. Abiodun Essiet.

The meeting also marked the launch of the Citizens’ Assembly for the North Central Region and the Listening Tour, initiatives designed to enhance public engagement and bridge the communication gap between the government and its citizens.

According to one of the speakers at the event, Dr. Hamza Abdulraheem of the Jamatul Nasir Islam, commended some of the bold steps taken by the Tinubu administration to tackle economic challenges bedeviling the country.

He, however, called on the FG to review its economic policies, more so as people are pained and protesting.

In his own view, another stakeholder, Mohammed Saleh Isiaq, disclosed that the President did not prepare sufficient ground for subsidy removal.

Mohammed, who said that the Nigerian economy revolves around oil, said that modular refineries, for instance, should have been established before the removal of the fuel subsidy.

“Nigerian economy revolves around oil. The food crisis and growing insecurity we have come from fuel subsidy removal. The policy not too negative, but enough preparation was not made. So, modular refineries is the way out and that will make fuel more readily available,” he said.

Others who also made contributions at the meeting, called for repair of roads connecting Kwara state with neighbouring states, engagement and empowerment of youth, women and people with disabilities in productive ventures, as well as improvement on consultation with people before project implementation.

One of the traditional chiefs of the Emir of Ilorin, the Magaji Nda of Ilorin, Alhaji Saliu Woru Mohammed, said that everything is not political and therefore called for better communication between the Federal Government and the people.

According to him, people’s opinion should always be sampled rather than dumping projects on them for better relationships and commended steps taken on local government autonomy.

In her speech, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement (North Central), Mrs. Abiodun Essiet, said that a gap in trust and communication between the federal government and local communities is caused by alleged unfulfilled promises by successive governments over the past 25 years since the return to democratic rule.

The president’s aide said that the present administration, through her office, initiated the Citizens Assembly for the North Central Region and the Listening Tour to hear directly from fellow citizens and allow them to make input in the process of governance in order to bridge the gap.

“The purpose of our meeting today is threefold:

“To Listen: We are here to listen to your concerns, your challenges, and your aspirations. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us understand what is working and where we need to do more.

“To Inform: We want to keep you informed about the ongoing and upcoming initiatives. Transparency is key to good governance, and it is our duty to ensure that you are fully aware of the steps being taken to improve your lives.

“To Collaborate: Finally, we are here to collaborate. The government cannot do it alone. We need the support, ideas, and active participation of every citizen to drive the change we all desire. Together, we can create sustainable solutions that reflect our collective will and shared goals,” she stated.

She further explained that the Citizens’ Assembly was created to collectively tackle community problems and foster an inclusive society where every voice is heard.

Essiet added that it offers structures across communities where residents can express their thoughts, share ideas, table pleas, and collaborate on lasting solutions to existing problems, while also planning proactively for future challenges.

The President’s aide disclosed that Citizens’ Assembly provides a tremendous opportunity for citizen engagement, dialogue, collaboration, and peaceful resolution while it is committed to ensuring swift information dissemination, stakeholder engagement, project participation, and continuous deliberations for meaningful outcomes.