Redesign social safety programs for the vulnerable, IPAC tells FG

The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has called on the federal government to redesign the social safety programs and direct it to the vulnerable following the spate of poverty across the country. 

The National Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, Dr Leonard Nzenwa during a world press conference on Thursday in Abuja, said any economic policy that do not put food on the people’s table makes no meaning to them. 

He said corruption in high places must be fought vigorously, adding that  poverty rate in the land must be reversed  to dignify Nigerians. 

He said IPAC is disturbed by the level of suffering in the land, a nation blessed with abundant human and natural resources. 

He noted that the economy is sluggish, real sector is epileptic and ultra-high Unemployment and key economic indicators are slow and businesses are stifled. 

He said this is a time bomb that needs to be addressed urgently. The factories have to be resuscitated to absorb millions of jobless and hopeless youths that are resorting to crime.

“Corruption in the various social safety net programs must be checked to make it work. 

He said the Council condemns in strong terms the incessant burning of INEC and Nigerian Police facilities in some parts of the country and demand a stop to this arson against the country. 

“We call on Security agents to identify and deal decisively with these criminal elements that are perpetrating the burning of national assets. 

“The Council calls on INEC to redouble its effort as much is expected from them ahead of the 6th November 2021, Anambra State gubernatorial election which is  litmus test for ahead of Ekiti and Osun Gubernatorial Electonics 2022 as we approach the 2023 general election for which the Commission created new polling units to fast track voting processes in the State, and across the nation.

“ IPAC reechoes it’s opposition to the appointment of Lauretta Onochie, an aid to Mr. President as a National Commissioner in INEC as this will undermine the independence and neutrality of the Commission with key appointment of a card-carrying member of a political party in the country – a very bad and unhealthy precedent in the country. 

“We call on National Assembly to ensure that they yield to demands of Nigerians not clear her. 

“We call on the government to reconsider its banning of Twitter in the country and reach a truce with the Social Media Company for the sake of Nigerian that use the medium for their  legitimate businesses with clear warning and agreement that it should not allow its handle to be used for hate speeches  or incitement that is detrimental to the Nigerian State,” he said.