Nigerians Launches Petition Demand 7-Point From Government

Over 6,000 Nigerians have sign petition asking the government for 7-point; Institutional reforms, Cost of governance, constitution reforms, education reforms, health reforms, youth affairs reform and public office reform.

The petition comes after Davido, on Monday met with the Inspector General of Police, Muhammadu Adamu, over the ongoing #EndSARS protests.

He raised the need for adequate training and psychological re-evaluation of members of the police unit with IGP Adamu.

In a statement published on Thursday by a concerned Nigerian at Change.org, a petition website wrote: “We recognize that this moment is the culmination of decades of dissatisfaction over the decay and corruption of our dear country, Nigeria.

We find the unhealthy haste to fashion a unit termed “SWAT” to be a misrepresentation of the 5for5 demand. It is not enough.

“This protest is beyond #EndSARS, #EndSWAT, #EndPoliceBrutality. This movement is for the soul of Nigeria. We are demanding a systemic overhaul of governance and institutional reforms as the barest minimum. We are better than what obtains presently; we demand progress.

“We are not vain agitators. We are clear-eyed youths and professionals in our respective fields who are tired of the way and manner our dear country has been run aground by successive administrations. We cannot idly stand by whilst our future and that of our children are mortgaged.”

The petition calls on the federal government to release arrested protesters, compensate families of victims, investigate and prosecute all reports of misconduct, proscribe SARS and review the welfare of police.

It also proposes that an urgent budgetary framework with 50% capital expenditure and 50% recurrent expenditure in all appropriation bill.

“We demand a drastic reduction in the cost of governance. We also demand that the national assembly, be first by streamlined into a unicameral legislative and be further stripped down to become a part-time job,” the petition says.

“The huge salaries and benefits accorded them by the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) should be reduced to the barest minimum.”

Below is the 7-point demand Nigerian citizens are asking from the government.

1.        INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS (SECURITY)

That the 5-point demand to release arrested protesters, compensate families of victims, investigate and prosecute all reports of misconduct, proscribe SARS and review the welfare of police be implemented immediately.

2)         COST OF GOVERNANCE

We demand a drastic reduction in the cost of governance. We also demand that the national assembly, be first by streamlined into a unicameral legislative and be further stripped down to become a part-time job.

3)         CONSTITUTION REFORMS

We demand an urgent referendum within 90 days to begin the line-by-line review, reconstruction and upgrade of the extant constitution to be more functional for a 21st Century nation. The selection process for this referendum will have 50% young people under 60 nominated by their peers in a transparent, judicious and fair process.

We demand that credence be given to terms of citizenship over indigeneship and state of residence over state of origin.

4)          EDUCATION REFORMS

·       We demand that a state of emergency is declared in the education sector and demand increase in the budgetary allocation to the educational sector by 50% and to double again within the next 24 months. This funds will be used to drive the education sector to provide affordable quality education to all citizens.

5)         HEALTH REFORMS

We demand that a state of emergency is declared in the health sector and demand increase in the budgetary allocation to the health sector by 50%

·       We demand mandatory health insurance for the vulnerable population in our society as NHIS is not doing enough to serve all Nigerians.

6)         YOUTH AFFAIRS REFORM

·       We demand that a state of emergency be declared in the ministry of Youths and Sports, Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of National Planning. We demand that this should be adequately funded, sports academy should be revamped.

We demand the creation of the Youth development funds dedicated to growing the creative industries and agriculture.

·       We demand that the Not-Too-Young to run bill should be expanded to include–50% inclusion of youth under 40 in every cabinet in government.

·       We demand that the youth inclusion be monitored by the FCC as they currently monitor state inclusion and the NCDMB and other stakeholders partake in this action to protect our future.

7) PUBIC OFFICE REFORMS

We demand code of conduct reforms for all elected public office holders to have themselves and their children use public schools and public hospitals ONLY. Violation of which is immediate impeachment and recall.

·       We demand immediate removal of immunity clause from public office holders to make them answerable to investigations at all times when and where necessary.

·       We demand immediate resignation of every public officer found guilty of any forms of crimes and corruption step aside during investigation also.