A coalition of civil society organisations, trade unions, youth groups, community associations, social movements and faith-based organisations has declared June 12 a day of nationwide protest and mass action over worsening insecurity, escalating economic hardship and the continued deterioration of living conditions across Nigeria.
The declaration was contained in a statement on Wednesday jointly signed by the National Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond, Femi Falana (SAN); National President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Yinka Folarin; and Hassan Soweto of the Organising Committee of the #EndBadGovernance Movement, Lagos State. Other signatories include the Organising Secretary of the Nigeria Patriotic Front Movement, Yusha’u Yankuzo; Secretary of Initiative and Mediation, Zauren Tuntuba da Sasanci, Ali Attahiru; and rapper and activist, Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz.
The statement said the planned protest is aimed at demanding the immediate release of Nigerians allegedly held captive in Oyo, Borno, Ekiti, Kwara and other states, while stressing that there is “nothing to celebrate” on June 12 amid persistent insecurity across the country. It added that Nigerians continue to face killings, abductions and displacement, while government responses have remained inadequate.
According to the coalition, communities across the country are under constant attack, with farmers unable to access their farms, schools under threat, highways unsafe and families living in fear or mourning abducted relatives. It also criticised the government’s handling of insecurity, stating that repeated assurances have not stopped ongoing violence and kidnappings.
The group further faulted the economic policies of the President Bola Tinubu administration, including the removal of fuel subsidy, fuel price increases, currency devaluation, rising electricity tariffs and the commercialisation of essential services. It said these policies have worsened poverty despite increased statutory allocations to the three tiers of government.
The coalition noted that food and transportation costs have surged, small and medium-scale businesses are struggling, and workers’ wages have been eroded by inflation. It called on Nigerians to participate in the June 12 protest to demand urgent action on insecurity and a reversal of anti-poor policies, describing the action as a struggle for survival and the future of Nigerian children.
Other signatories include the Executive Director of the Moses Oisakede Leadership Foundation, Mike Igaga; President of the Precision, Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association, Rufus Olusesan; and Segun Oladunni of the Joint Action Front. Others are Abiodun Olamosu of Socialist Labour, Jonathan Ugbal of the Calabar Group of Socialists, Richard Inoyo of Citizens Solution Network, Salako Kayode of the Revolutionary Socialist Movement, Omole Ibukun of the Centre for Creative Change, and Adaramoye Michael of the Youth Rights Campaign.