Tag: CSOs

Nigeria risks losing foreign assets to reckless borrowing – CSOs warn

Aminu Imam

Some Civil Society Organisations, (CSOs) have raised concern over Nigeria’s rising debt profile describing it as a ‘debt trap’ already worsening the country’s crisis-ridden economy and costing the nation its foreign assets. The CSOs consisting of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center, (CISLAC) and Christian Aid in partnership with Transparency International, TI), noted that Nigeria is presently in a debt crisis with a fiscal deficit well above the statutory threshold of 3 percent, an increasingly unsustainable debt profile and a rising debt servicing that has been worsened by rising interest…

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Kaduna Insecurity: “Stop using jobless Nigerians to launder image; insecurity still high” – CSOs tell Service Chiefs

Aminu Imam

In the face of growing insecurity across the country, occasioned by kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, and separatist agitations, some prominent civil society organisations (CSOs), and a security consulting organisation have cautioned the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor and other Service Chiefs against using false narratives on the insecurity ravaging the nation. The groups’ advice came in reaction to last week’s claim by a CSO, ‘National Coalition of Concerned Citizens on Peace and Security’, that the nation’s security situation had greatly improved, even as it thanked the military high…

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Security Breaches: CSOs fault routine disregard of DSS intelligence by other agencies

Aminu Imam

A civil society and citizen’s groups coalition, Citizens Stability Forum, (CSF), has warned against what it described as routine disregard, and lack of appreciation of critical intelligence provided by the country’s lead spook agency, the Department of State Services (DSS) ahead of next year’s election. The group, made up of a coalition of security experts, and conscious citizens on the spate of insecurity in the country, also called on well-meaning individuals, and relevant security agencies to specially commend the current Director General, DG, DSS, Yusuf Bichi, given critical intelligence his…

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Crude Oil theft: CNPP, CSOs urge Buhari to sack Kyari, others

Aminu Imam

Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) and Coalition of the National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs) have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over ineptitude in handling the affairs of the company and oil theft. According to them, Kyari has continued to justify positions held on the management team of the old and new NNPC. Convener of the coalition and CNPP’s Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, and the National Secretary of CNCSOs, Ali Abacha,…

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Abuse of Defense Budget: ‘Investigate procurement procedures, contract awards from 2015’ – CSOs urge EFCC, ICPC 

Aminu Imam

A coalition of 200 Civil Society Organisations, (CSOs), have called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and other relevant law enforcement agencies to, as a matter of urgency, undertake a comprehensive investigation of Defence Budgets between 2015 and 2022. Specifically, the coalition wants focus to be on the procurement processes, contract awards, as well as welfare of personnel and staff. The anticipated probe, the group added, must include the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) as well as…

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Economic Crimes: CNPP, CSOs demand immediate resignation of NPA Boss, arrest of ex-Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi

Aminu Imam

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (C-CSOs) have called for the immediate resignation of the current Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Moh’d Bello-Koko, and the arrest of the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, for defying the Federal Government on matters relating to the Treasury Single Account, (TSA), and operating two secret foreign accounts where payments are made and the funds are looted at will by the management and the supervising Minister while he was in office. Recall…

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Insecurity: CSO threatens protest, gives Buhari 2-week ultimatum to sack Monguno

Aminu Imam

A civil society organisation (CSO), The Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA), has threatened to “occupy the office” of the National Security Adviser (NSA) if President Muhammadu Buhari fails to sack him. The group had earlier asked the NSA, Babagana Monguno, to resign over the insecurity in the country. On Sunday, a Senator representing Niger-East, Sani Musa, also criticised the NSA for not being the first to inform President Buhari of a threat by bandits to kidnap him. In a statement issued on Monday, signed by the AYA spokesman, Mohammed Danlami, the…

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Terrorist attacks: ‘FG aloof, detached from reality on the ground’ — CSOs

Aminu Imam

Some Civil Society Organisations, (CSOs), have described the Buhari administration as being primed for failure by refusing to act swiftly to events of attacks by bandits terrorising the country. According to them, terrorism, insurgency, and banditry did not start under Buhari; however, they say it is to his eternal discredit that all have escalated almost beyond control on his watch. The civil society groups said the major and persistent posture of Presidency officials has been to live in denial and blame their predecessors. They further accuse him of not taking…

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CSOs express sadness over high cost of fuel, epileptic power supply, and soaring food prices

Aminu Imam

As Nigerians continue to get frustrated daily by the harsh economic situation, Civil Society Organisations, (CSOs), have expressed sadness over high cost of Premium Motor Spirit, (PMS), diesel, poor power supply, and soaring food prices coupled with the depreciating security situation in the country. Speaking with newsmen on Monday, the CSOs, including Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, (CISLAC), One Love Foundation, (OLF), and Concerned Nigerians, (CN), said Nigerians are currently at the lowest ebb, as more are being pushed into poverty and misery. According to the CISLAC Executive Director, Auwal…

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Electoral Act: CSOs kick over mounting pressure on NASS to delete Section 84 (10)

Aminu Imam

Some Civil Society Organisations, (CSOs) in Nigeria have expressed their alarm over the mounting political pressure on the National Assembly to undo some of the progressive elements of the Amended Electoral Bill, specifically the section preventing political appointees from participating in the party candidate nomination process, either as aspirants or delegates. Recall that Section 84 (10) of the Amended Electoral Act ruled out political appointees from taking part in partisan contests as a voting delegate or aspirant with a provision that read: ‘No political appointee at any level shall be…

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