By Shakirudeen Adeshina
Speaker of the House of Representative, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has refused to sign the 2021 Appropriation Bill, recently presented to the lower legislative arm by President Muhammadu Buhari.
His refusal was hinged on the need to make a more substantial provision for the youths, who constitute 67% of the entire population of the country.
At a plenary session earlier on Tuesday, Gbajabiamila, who identified with the Nigerian youths protesting against the lawlessness of the now disbanded Special Anti-robbery Squad, said as part of the government commitments to their demands, he would not append his signature on the next year’s budget, which was planned to deliver on record time.
According to him, “I will not sign off on a 2021 budget that does not include adequate provisions to compensate those who have suffered violence and brutality at the hands of the police in Nigeria in the last decade.”
He however admonished the youths to sheathe their swords, leave the streets and take to the dialogue table to push for strategic partnerships with government on policy interventions that would drive the successful implementation of their demands.
“We see your true calls. Please do not allow your righteous calls to be hijacked by those with debased motives who see in this moment, an opportunity to pursue vendettas, spread division, exploit the many divisions that existing our society to bring the nation to its knees.
“You have raised your voices and managed to demand for a better Nigeria. From Abuja to Wasinthon, to Cakury and London, your voices have been heard. Do not allow anybody to convince you that to withdraw from the streets now is to concede defeat.
“This is the time to move your agitations from the chaos of the streets to the painstaking deliberations and strategic partnerships and sound policies and produce legislation.
“It is time to mobilise your voices in support of specific policy interventions that will deliver on our shared objectives of national renewal and a country that reflect the best of us,” he added.
Meanwhile, the nationwide protest has taken different dimensions in Lagos and Edo States, as the governors, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Godwin Obaseki have declared 24 hours curfew, following the burning of police station and freeing of prison inmates in Sapele.
