The #EndBadGovernance Movement and a coalition of civil society organisations have called for a 48-hour nationwide general strike and mass protests over the worsening state of insecurity in Nigeria, demanding the immediate release of abducted schoolchildren, teachers and other victims of kidnapping across the country.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday ahead of the June 12 Democracy Day celebrations, the coalition accused successive administrations of failing in their constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property, warning that the nation’s security situation has deteriorated to alarming levels.
The group urged the Federal Government and security agencies to secure the immediate and unconditional release of all Nigerians currently being held by kidnappers, bandits and terrorist groups.
Addressing journalists on behalf of the coalition, Comrade Michael Adaramoye expressed concern over the continued captivity of pupils and teachers abducted in Oyo State, as well as students reportedly being held by kidnappers in Borno State. He insisted that government must deploy every available resource to ensure their safe rescue.
The coalition also advocated the establishment of democratically elected, multi-ethnic community security committees in every local government area, ward and community nationwide to complement existing security structures and enhance grassroots participation in security management.
In addition, the group demanded a comprehensive public investigation into security votes and other security-related expenditures at both federal and state levels, arguing that the huge sums allocated to security over the years have not translated into improved protection for citizens.
According to the coalition, records of security spending should be made public, independently audited and subjected to transparent scrutiny, while any official found to have misappropriated security funds should face prosecution.
The group further questioned the effectiveness of the Safe Schools Initiative introduced after the 2014 abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok, noting that despite significant investments in school security, attacks on educational institutions and student kidnappings continue to occur in several parts of the country.
Linking the security crisis to worsening economic conditions, the coalition called for the reversal of what it described as anti-poor economic policies, arguing that rising fuel prices, inflation and increasing poverty have deepened social hardship and contributed to insecurity.
It urged the government to increase investment in education, healthcare, housing and job creation, maintaining that unemployment, poverty and social exclusion have created conditions that fuel criminality and facilitate recruitment into violent groups.
The coalition also called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and other allied organisations to declare a 48-hour nationwide strike and coordinate peaceful mass protests to press for urgent government action on insecurity and economic hardship.
Announcing plans for a nationwide protest on June 12, the group said Nigerians must not remain silent while communities are attacked, schools disrupted and citizens abducted with little consequence for perpetrators.
Among its key demands are the immediate rescue of all abductees, transparent oversight of security spending, the creation of community-based security committees, reversal of anti-poor economic measures, increased funding for education and social services, payment of living wages to workers and enhanced protection for vulnerable communities.
The coalition maintained that resolving Nigeria’s security challenges would require not only military and law enforcement responses but also sustained efforts to address poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment, which it identified as major drivers of instability across the country.
