Mohammed Shosanya, Babatunde Solanke
The Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN),has reiterated the need for dialogue and engagement between the government and concerned citizens to stave off the hardship and rising inflation in the country.
The group expressed this in a joint statement signed by the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), and Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) and Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI).
The group said,it has carefully considered the planned protest by certain citizens in response to current challenges affecting public welfare.
The OPSN,it said it prioritises the importance of dialogue and engagement between the government and concerned citizens on the strength of its apolitical nature.
It said,open and constructive dialogue is the most effective tool for addressing the nation’s challenges and encouraging the desired changes.
It said:”We urge all parties to embrace this path of dialogue to achieve meaningful and lasting solutions for the benefit of our country. “However, should the decision to protest be made, we earnestly appeal for it to be conducted in a peaceful and orderly atmosphere.
“A peaceful protest will ensure that citizens can express their concerns without infringing upon the rights of others or disrupting legal and lawful activities. It will also allow the government to respond appropriately and facilitate a productive engagement that could lead to future collaboration on the outcomes of such engagements.
“As representatives of the business community, we are acutely aware of the potential economic impact of mass protests. Our members are crucial drivers of economic growth and job creation; therefore, any disruption to business operations could have significant repercussions on the economy and the livelihoods of the people.”
