The government warns that any form of violence or disruption will not be tolerated, aiming to balance civil liberties with community safety.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has reiterated the Nigerian government’s support for citizens’ right to peaceful protest.
He said President Bola Tinubu’s administration is committed to protecting democratic rights while calling for protests to be conducted in a manner that ensures public order and respects the rights of others.
The government warns that any form of violence or disruption will not be tolerated, aiming to balance civil liberties with community safety.
During a courtesy visit on Wednesday, by the Charismatic Bishop Conference to his office in Abuja, Idris stated that while the government recognises the right to protest, it is also committed to preventing violence and ensuring public safety, Tribune reports.
The minister’s statement follows plans by various groups to stage nationwide protests in response to the ongoing economic crisis.
Idris called on protesters to exercise their rights responsibly and peacefully, emphasising the importance of avoiding harm to others and maintaining social order.
He said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government upholds the principle that individuals are free to act according to their own judgment, as long as it is within the bounds of the law.”
He said the President supports the right to protest but opposes violence and actions that could harm Nigerians’ well-being.
He consistently asserts that within democratic principles, everyone has the right to pursue their own actions, provided these actions do not infringe upon the rights of others.
Idris said that President Tinubu is aware of the legitimate concerns and complaints of Nigerians nationwide, noting that his administration is working on implementing effective policies to alleviate the challenges and bring relief to all citizens.
He also used the opportunity to announce that in an unprecedented move, President Tinubu is developing a policy to provide stipends to all unemployed university and polytechnic graduates in the country until they secure formal employment in any sector of the economy.
“But beyond that, there is also another new policy the President has formulated. Soon, all young men and women who have completed university or polytechnic education, earned their certificates, and completed their mandatory NYSC but are still unemployed, will receive government support to sustain them until they find jobs,” he said.
He stressed further that due to the President’s dedication to Nigerian workers’ welfare, he continued to engage with the Organised Labour Unions even after the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage completed its report. This sustained effort ultimately led to the resolution of the issue and the establishment of the N70,000 national minimum wage.
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