Stop planned protest, your cries have been heard – Senate tell Nigerians

In the sake of the nation, THE Senate has requested that supporters of the nationwide protests and Nigerians suspend their preparations.

The Senate claims that in just one year in office, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has started implementing policies that will help Nigerians in the near future.

Speaking during a nearly two-hour executive session yesterday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio stated that the Senate is advising individuals preparing for today’s planned nationwide rallies to postpone their plans after reviewing the situation.

Akpabio had on Sunday summoned an emergency session of the upper legislative chambers, ahead of the nationwide protest.

Meanwhile, there was a heavy security presence in and around the National Assembly complex in Abuja yesterday, as lawmakers held an emergency plenary.

Contrary to the usual practice, the Sergeant-at-arms, barricaded the entrance to the National Assembly, with strict adherence to the provision of identification cards for entry at the Mopol gate.

Policemen in their numbers, hovered around the entrance of the National Assembly with their guns.

The heightened security, it was gathered, was allegedly intended to prevent protesters from gathering at the venue.

According to the President of the Senate, initiatives such as the signing of the national minimum wage bill into law, establishment of the North West and South East Development Commissions, granting of local government autonomy, among others, will reduce hunger and poverty in the country.

He said the various bills passed by the National Assembly would also help in resolving the economic challenges bedeviling the country.

Akpabio said: “The senate in a closed session, deliberated on issues bothering on the workings of the Senate in particular and the national assembly in general.

“The Senate particularly reviewed the current situation as regards the impending protest set to be slated for tomorrow August 1.

“This protest is slated for tomorrow, the 30th of August, 2024 and I kindly urge you that one year is not long enough for the policies being implemented by the current administration of President Asuwajibola Bola Tunibu to yield the desired results.

“The Senate urges the protesters to give the government more time to address their demands, considering the measures being put in place to ameliorate the situation in the country, such as the National Minimum Wage Act, the sale of crude oil to local refiners in naira, the implementation of Students Loan Act, the assent recently granted to the Southeast Development Commission and the Northwest Development Commission, bills passed by the National Assembly to further address developments at the grassroots.

“The Senate, and in fact the entire National Assembly, is willing to legislate on all matters that will bring succour to Nigerians in general.”