Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume led a private meeting with senior ministers on Wednesday to discuss the impending nationwide protest in response to the economic challenges facing Nigerians.
The confidential meeting, attended by ministers from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, aimed to strategize on the government’s response to the growing discontent.
Key attendees included Nyesom Wike (Federal Capital Territory), Yusuf Tuggar (Foreign Affairs), Zephaniah Jisalo (Special Duties), Tahir Mamman (Education), and Abubakar Bagudu (Budget and Planning). Also present were Wale Edun (Finance), Mohammed Idris (Information), Bello Matawalle (Defence), David Umahi (Works), and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
The meeting, which was ongoing at the time of this report, reflects the administration’s efforts to address concerns about the protest planned for August. This protest, known as ‘EndBadGovernance,’ is gaining traction on social media and is set to span across all states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
President Tinubu has urged Nigerians to delay the protest, which is organized by yet-to-be-identified groups. The call to action comes amid severe economic challenges characterized by soaring food prices and inflation, exacerbated by the government’s recent policies on petrol subsidies and forex unification.
The meeting’s outcomes and any potential government responses will likely be closely watched as the situation continues to develop.
