Policy
By EricJames Ochigbo
Abuja, Dec. 26, 2024 (NAN) The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has tasked the Federal Government on life-changing policies and initiatives that will impact positively on all Nigerians.
The Minority Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers) made the call in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
He said that the call had became necessary following alleged upsurge of arrests of citizens, critical of government policies by security agencies.
According to Chinda, the caucus is very concerned about the growing controversial clampdown of citizens criticizing government allegedly by state institutions.
He said that democracy can only thrive where there is virile opposition, and dissenting voices, as well as enabling alternative opinions to express their differing views without fear.
“It is disturbing that agents of state are fingered in the brazen, callous, and ill-tempered harassment, and intimidation of citizens who on various medium express their respective disagreement, and apprehensions about some government policies which they believe will further exacerbate the near-zero situations of Nigerians.
“As a responsive and responsible group, we condemn in strong terms any, and every actions by the government; through security, and law enforcement agencies geared towards creating fears, panic, and make people to cow-tow to submission.
“As a responsive and responsible group, we condemn in strong terms any, and every actions by the government; through security, and law enforcement agencies geared towards creating fears, panic, and make people to cow-tow to submission.
“We encourage the government to evolve results-yielding, and life-changing policies, and initiatives that will impact positively on Nigerians as an ingenious strategy to “defeat” its critics,”he said.
The caucus called for immediate release of anyone detained by state agencies for criticising government policies, or under any guise, pledging to resort to legislative actions against continuous abuse.
The lawmakers counseled Nigerians to ensure that every criticism should be civil, and align with accepted regulations.