The Centre for Human Rights, Civil Education, and Development (CHRICED), has criticized the recent removal of fuel subsidies by the Nigerian government. The organization believes that this decision should have been accompanied by comprehensive governance reforms to address Nigeria’s issues of corruption and poor governance.
During a press conference held in Abuja, the Executive Director of CHRICED, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, stated that Nigerians must be proactive in addressing issues of common interest. He noted that the same political elites who mishandled the economy and national assets are selling the antidote of subsidy withdrawal to Nigerians.
Zikirullahi argued that if the government acted in good faith, the hasty announcement of subsidy removal should have been accompanied by a comprehensive package of governance reforms, demonstrating the readiness of the government to drastically address issues such as crude oil theft, corruption, and wasteful government spending.
CHRICED also rejected the politicians who it said had turned the state into their fiefdom and were now telling Nigerians how they must make sacrifices for the country’s economic fortunes and stability. Zikirullahi urged Vice President Kashim Shettima and the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to publicly declare their assets as soon as possible and embrace the values of openness, integrity, and accountability.
The group further urged the government to develop a roadmap for corruption prevention to guarantee the sustainability of good governance. CHRICED believes that Nigeria’s economy and future depend on the willingness of political officeholders to sacrifice and contribute to the country’s economic stability and development.
