According to the coalition, it was in response to these hardships, that from August 1 to 10, 2024, Nigerians took to the streets to express their frustration and demand better governance.
A coalition of 10 Nigerian civil society organisations has expressed alarm over the criminalisation of peaceful protests and assembly under the administration of President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In an open letter to the President, the coalition condemned the excessive use of force by security agencies, which has resulted in the deaths of protesters and legal action against citizens exercising their constitutional right to protest.
The letter titled ‘Governance and Democracy: Demanding the Right to Peaceful Protest and Assembly in Nigeria,’ highlights the economic hardship caused by recent policies, including fuel subsidy removal and Naira devaluation, since President Tinubu took office.
"Prices of essential commodities have surged, and the exchange rate has deteriorated, exacerbating the challenges faced by millions of citizens. Coupled with the ongoing insecurity in many parts of the country, the situation has become increasingly untenable for the people," the coalition observed.
According to the coalition, it was in response to these hardships, that from August 1 to 10, 2024, Nigerians took to the streets to express their frustration and demand better governance.
It said, "The peaceful protests were a call to action for your administration to address the suffering of the people and to take decisive steps to improve governance and economic conditions.
"Although we do not condone the actions of criminals who have been duly tried and found guilty of looting citizens’ and government properties, and sabotaging the protest, we are deeply troubled by the government’s response to these peaceful demonstrations.
"Reports indicate that several individuals have been detained nationwide, with some facing legal action for exercising their constitutional right to protest. Moreover, the excessive use of force by security agencies, resulting in the tragic deaths of several protesters, is alarming and unacceptable.
"Even more concerning is the government’s characterization of the protests as an attempt at “regime change” or a “coup,” which has further escalated tensions. While we acknowledge the recent steps taken by your administration, such as the signing of the amended National Minimum Wage Act and the distribution of food aid, we believe these measures, though well-intentioned, were not sufficient to address the root causes of the unrest."
The coalition, however, reminded the President that the right to peaceful protest and assembly is a fundamental democratic right enshrined in international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended).
"We remind you of your past involvement in protests under previous administrations, which underscores the importance of respecting citizens’ rights to express their grievances," it said.
The coalition, however, made some demands which include; the unconditionally release of all individuals detained for participating in peaceful protests.
It said, "These citizens should not be criminalized for exercising their democratic rights and law enforcement agencies should respect human rights norms as they enforce the use of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act.
"Establish a credible and non-partisan framework for civic engagement and policy dialogue at the Presidency to address the root causes of the protests by implementing short, medium, and long-term strategies to alleviate the economic hardships faced by Nigerians.
“This includes, but is not limited to: Ending the importation of refined petroleum products by fully operationalizing existing government and private refineries. This will not only reduce the cost of fuel but also stabilize the prices of other essential goods.
"Ensuring utmost transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector, particularly with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
"We urge that NNPCL’s dealings be open to public monitoring, with regular publication of updated and detailed information on financial transactions and contracts. This is especially vital following the subsidy removal, which has impacted all Nigerians.
"Halting irresponsible borrowing practices and providing transparency and accountability for the use of borrowed funds.
“Implementing comprehensive social protection policies and programmes to address the high rate of poverty in the country.
"Ensuring equitable and reliable power supply across all regions, eliminating the current discriminatory power distribution system."
The coalition further reminded the President that Nigeria stands at a crossroads, and actions his administration takes in the coming days will significantly influence the direction the country will take.
It said, "We believe that with decisive and compassionate leadership, you can restore public confidence and steer Nigeria toward a path of prosperity and justice for all its citizens.
"We look forward to your prompt action on these critical issues and we are available for any clarification on how to take our demands forward."
The open letter was signed by David Ugolor, Executive Director, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ)/on behalf of the CSOs Representatives; Andrew Mamedu, Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Auwal Ibrahim Musa, (Rafsanjani) Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC); Samson Itodo, Executive Director, YIAGA Africa; Abiola Akioyede, Founding Executive Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC).
Others are Rev. Father John Patrick Ngoyi, Director, Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC); Tijani Bolton, Executive Director, Policy Alert; Monday Osasah, Executive Director, Africa Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre-LSD); Eze Onyekpere, Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) and Tijani Abdulkareem, Executive Director, Socio Economic Research and Development Centre (SERDEC).
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