Osun Central, Senator Ajagunnla Olubiyi Fadeyi, has advised President Bola Tinubu to urgently convene a national stakeholders engagement forum that will create lasting solutions to the hardship in the economy as the cost of living worsens and rising insecurity.
Fadeyi said that as a lawmaker who is close to the people, the situation in the country has reached a level where leaders must come together and fix the problem. He commended the president for providing palliatives to Nigerians. however wondered why the reliefs were not getting to the targeted beneficiaries.
Fadeyi Responded to questions on his assessment of the state of the nation since the inception of the new administration, he said, “I would say, it’s dire, and I can confirm that with all sense of responsibility. As representatives of our people, we are closer to the masses at every level, so we feel the peoples plight much more easily than any other politician. Is it the escalating cost of living or growing insecurity or weakening local currency, which invariably worsens inflation or even the biting impact of removal of fuel subsidy.
He added, “I think, the president needs to call for a stakeholders engagement as a matter of urgency, a no-holds-barred, non- political but frank conversation. A national stakeholder’s engagement of this nature needs to be led by the president himself. Actionable points must be agreed at such a forum to address the most urgent predicaments that face the country at this time.”
According to the Senator, there is a need to review the way the drivers and managers of the palliatives have been implementing the projects, decrying why they are not achieving the intended results.
However, Fadeyi believes tough decisions must be taken to save Nigerians from the worsening economic situation.
He said, “To be honest, very courageous decisions may need to be reached, if we must save our men and women from starvation, businesses from shutting down, and unemployment from worsening.
“We all know that energy cost is the most significant cost incurred by any business, regardless of size. Food costs will be reduced, so at least people can eat. The labour unrest will also reduce as the conversation around salary increment would be unnecessary.”