In a bid to stop the planned nationwide protest by Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu has directed all federal ministers to visit their respective states between July 24 and August 1.
This move comes as a planned 10-day protest, slated for August 1-10, draws near.
The protest, intended to condemn bad governance occasioned by the rising cost of inflation, has gained significant attention on social media.
Politics Nigeria reports that an emergency meeting was held between the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and all ministers in Abuja on Wednesday morning.
Among other recommendations, the meeting discussed a planned national broadcast by President Tinubu.
Journalists were denied entry to the SGF Conference Room, the venue of the closed-door meeting, however, informed sources disclosed details of the discussion.
“All ministers were present. They suggested that there should be a national address. It was suggested that the President himself should do it. But the suggestion will have to reach the President first.
“They also asked ministers to put together three key achievements they have made in the past year. They will compile these achievements and present them to Nigerians.
“In fact, tomorrow (today), the Minister of Finance will be briefing the media on the state of the economy. But those achievements will be compiled for a separate presentation.”
“The government stands for dialogue. They will get the leaders (of the protest) to meet with the government for discussions.
“All the ministers will also go back to their states to engage their people so they won’t be misled into joining the protests. That is between now and the protest date.
“Some have been engaging their people before. But this time, everyone has been asked to go back there,” a source told The Punch Newspaper.
Some ministers are expected to join state governors at the 143rd session of the National Economic Council, scheduled to hold at the Council Chamber of the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja on Thursday (today).
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