The United Action Front of Civil Society (UAFCS) has announced that organized civil society groups are prepared to engage in dialogue with the Federal Government concerning the ongoing nationwide protests and the broader challenges facing the country.
This was made known to The Pathway News on Sunday, Mr. Olawale Okunniyi, Head of the Coordinating Secretariat of UAFCS, stated that civil society organizations would accept the government’s invitation for discussions aimed at addressing the concerns of citizens.
This comes after President Bola Tinubu, in a broadcast on Sunday, called for the suspension of all protests to create space for dialogue. The president reiterated his administration’s commitment to addressing the issues raised by the populace.
The protests, which began on Thursday, have significantly disrupted socio-economic activities across various states. Reacting to the president’s appeal, Okunniyi emphasized that organized civil society has always been open to dialogue, recognizing it as a crucial tool for conflict resolution.
“The organized civil society is open to dialogue, and we will respond positively if we are invited by the president. We have never refused dialogue because it provides a platform to discuss and resolve the issues and challenges in the country. Superior opinions or arguments should prevail,” Okunniyi said.
He expressed optimism that the government would soon reach out to the leaders of the protest for meaningful discussions. Okunniyi also stressed that every Nigerian has a role to play in ensuring the country’s peace and prosperity.
However, he pointed out that the protests could have been avoided if there had been earlier engagement between civil society groups and the government. Okunniyi recalled that during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, several discussions with civil society yielded positive results, contrasting this with the previous administration, which he claimed had shut out civil society despite its role in bringing the government to power.
He urged the Federal Government to carefully identify and engage with the genuine groups championing the cause of the masses to ensure effective dialogue. Okunniyi also called on the government to take immediate steps to reduce the prices of basic items like food and to address the issue of insecurity, which has severely impacted farming activities in the North, thereby driving up food prices.
