The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on the government and the organisers and supporters of the planned hardship demonstration to call off the protest and embrace dialogue to turn around the plight of the Nigerian people for good.
The NBA also called on members of the National and State Houses of Assembly to immediately engage with their constituents based on the plans of government at the federal and subnational levels to address the demands of the people.
In a letter dated July 29th and signed by its President, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Yakubu Maikyau, the NBA further recommended that a National Security Summit be convened, where serving and retired military, police, intelligence, and other law enforcement officers will assemble to reexamine the security situation, proffer workable solutions and implementation strategies.
“Traditional institutions and religious leaders should be co-opted and given specific tasks in this regard. Civil society organisations should be engaged at all levels of the proposed dialogue and in the monitoring of the implementation of the decisions that may be reached.”
The NBA President in the letter noted that the association has consistently called the government’s attention to the sufferings of the people and the need for the government to take clear and decisive steps to revamp the economy and get Nigerians out of hunger and poverty, caused largely by incidents of insecurity and corruption.