Concerned about the present state of the nation, the conference of former Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly of Nigeria, has called on the federal government to immediately embark on initiatives capable of ameliorating the hardship faced by Nigerians.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a one-day meeting of the body held in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, in which the group noted that the nation’s problems required concerted efforts.
The conference, attended by the governors of Adamawa, Delta and Ebonyi states, as well as 125 former speakers of state Houses of Assembly, urged the federal government to quickly involve all stakeholders in the bid to bring about a lasting solution to the current hardship and crisis.
Decrying the falling value of the naira, the body urged monetary and fiscal authorities to find appropriate solutions to the challenges.
In the communiqué signed by the conference chairman, Honourable Simon Bako Lalong, the group harped on the need for prudent fiscal management, diversification of the economy, the promotion of local production and entrepreneurship, the strengthening of institutions responsible for monetary policies and the implementation of measures to attract foreign investments that will stabilise the exchange rate and foster economic growth.
On the security situation, the conference stressed the need to restore peace and security in the country, using a holistic approach.
It commended the efforts of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu in tackling the security situation in the land but emphasised that individual members must explore further ways of assisting the president and governors in curtailing the worrisome security situation in the country.
According to the group, it is paramount to bolster collaborative efforts among security agencies, enhance intelligence gathering mechanisms, and engage in community-oriented policing strategies.
He also advised on investing in youth empowerment programmes and addressing the root causes of insecurity, such as unemployment and poverty.
The conference called for concerted efforts to mitigate inflationary pressures through effective price control mechanisms, subsidies for essential commodities, and social welfare programs targeting vulnerable populations.
It also called for improvement in infrastructure, particularly in the transportation and energy sectors, to reduce the cost of goods and services and enhance overall living standards of the citizenry.
It also called for attention on addressing corruption, improving healthcare and education systems, promoting good governance, and ensuring inclusivity and equity in national development agenda.
