Tinubu’s Return: CSOs Demand Action On Hardship, Insecurity, Accountability

Civil society groups have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritise worsening economic hardship, insecurity, accountability and electoral reforms as he returns to Nigeria from his working vacation.

The groups, including the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Transparency International Chapter in Nigeria, and the Resource Center for Human Rights Education (CHRICED), made the demands in separate reactions to the President’s return.

CISLAC, through its Media Manager, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said the priority should immediately shift from political ceremonies and official engagements to the realities confronting millions of Nigerians.

Rafsanjani said Nigerians were increasingly asking when government policies would translate into food on the table, safer communities, decent jobs, affordable transportation and improved public services.

He identified the rising cost of living and declining household purchasing power as immediate concerns, saying government interventions should lower food and transportation costs, strengthen agricultural production, support small businesses and create sustainable employment.

According to him, economic gains should ultimately be measured by whether ordinary families can afford food, transportation, healthcare, education and housing.

CISLAC also urged the President to confront insecurity with measurable results, saying Nigerians needed fewer abductions, safer highways, secure farming communities, dismantled criminal networks, effective intelligence coordination and successful prosecution of perpetrators.

Rafsanjani further called for accountability over the reported deaths of 37 people in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

He said the investigation into the incident should identify those responsible, publish its findings and ensure prosecution wherever criminal liability was established.

“Suspension without accountability cannot become the final response to the loss of 37 lives,” he said.

On the economy, CISLAC urged the President to address public debt, waste, corruption and the quality of government expenditure, stressing that every borrowing decision should be subjected to accountability regarding its purpose, expected public benefit and responsibility for implementation.

The group also called for strong institutions, credible anti-corruption enforcement, respect for the rule of law, transparent public expenditure and sustained investment in healthcare, education, electricity, employment and social protection as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.

Similarly, Kolawole Omoniyi, Media Manager of the Resource Center for Human Rights Education (CHRICED), said the President should focus on measures to reduce the burden of rising living costs on Nigerians.

Omoniyi said the administration should be specific about measures to cushion the effect of high fuel prices, particularly for workers and private-sector employees struggling with transportation costs.

He also urged the President to act on the investigation into the deaths of artisanal miners in Enugu State, saying Nigerians were expecting the outcome of the investigation.

On the 2027 elections, Omoniyi urged Tinubu to be specific about his role in ensuring that politicians conduct their campaigns peacefully.

“We want him to lead by example. The idea of saying, ‘Okay, winner, stay calm, and we don’t care about the aftermath,’ shouldn’t be the approach because we want peace in the country,” he said.

He also called for improved security ahead of the elections, saying Nigerians should have confidence that they could vote safely and that their votes would count.

Omoniyi urged the President to ensure the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and promote electoral reforms that would reduce the number of election disputes ending up in court.

He said the judiciary should not become the institution determining the outcome of most elections through post-election litigation.

According to him, the focus should be on ensuring that elections are conducted in a manner that produces results accepted by the contestants and the electorate.