The economic reform initiatives of president Bola Tinubu in which the government scrapped the subsidies on petroleum products and floated the exchange rate of the Naira has caused a massive cost of living crisis around the country. Inflation is at an unprecedented level, and the prices of food items and basic commodities have gotten beyond the reach of ordinary people. The anguish and suffering has compelled activist to mobilize citizens to protest over the unprecedented economic hardship which the policies of the government has unleashed. The mobilization and planning for the nationwide protest, tagged “Days of Rage” which is slated to commence on August1 is gaining momentum around the nation.
Meanwhile, protesters have outlined their demands, vowing to persist until significant changes are enacted. They have emphasized that any harm to protesters will escalate their demands to the resignation of Tinubu and his cabinet.
The protesters’ demands include:
1. Fuel Price Reduction: They want petrol prices reduced to N100 per litre.
2. Addressing Insecurity and Hunger: Closing IDP camps and resettling the campers to combat insecurity and hunger.
3. Electoral Reform: Implementing comprehensive electoral reform and investigating the N355 billion electoral budget independently.
4. Release of #EndSARS Detainees: Demanding the immediate release of all detained #EndSARS protesters.
5. Living Wage: Implementing a living wage starting at N300,000.
6. Free Education: Ensuring compulsory free education from primary to secondary school, and providing an education grant at the tertiary level.
7. Public School Mandate: Requiring children of all public office holders to attend public schools.
8. Support for Local Products: Encouraging government patronage of made-in-Nigeria goods.
9. Unicameral Legislature: Transitioning to a unicameral legislature.
10. Judicial and Constitutional Reforms: Implementing extensive judicial and constitutional reforms.
Additional demands include scrapping the 1999 Constitution, setting a minimum wage of N250,000, investing heavily in education, releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, renationalizing sold enterprises, reinstating a corruption-free subsidy regime, probing corrupt leaders, restructuring Nigeria for diversity, reforming security agencies, establishing a Special Energy Fund, reconstituting INEC, investing in public works, overhauling the judiciary, and introducing diaspora voting.
Organizers have also prohibited smoking and drinking on the protest grounds.
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