A Coalition of Civil Society Groups in Abuja has drummed support for the federal government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), particularly on the foreign exchange (FX) policy restricting access to FX to some 41 items.
They noted that the Nigerian economy will make huge gains from the continued implementation of the policy.
Speaking with journalists during a peaceful demonstration in Abuja on Tuesday, January 31, 2017, the convener of the march, Mr. Etuk Bassey Williams, said the present economic situation in the country called for cooperation of all stakeholders to enable Nigeria emerge from the recession at the earliest time possible.
He frowned on what he described as the continued blackmail against President Muhammadu Buhari and members of his cabinet by some corrupt politicians who may feel aggrieved by the strict fiscal and monetary policies in the country. He also warned that acceding to the demands of those opposed to the policy would be tantamount to reversing the gains already recorded by the country.
According to Williams, the decisions of the CBN were aimed at shielding the economy from collapse by conserving the nation’s foreign reserves, protecting the international value of the naira and creating jobs for Nigerians.
Rather than malign the fiscal and monetary authorities for their efforts at managing the economy in austere times, Mr. Williams said genuinely concerned Nigerians ought to contribute their quota by proffering solutions to factors militating against the development and growth of the economy. Williams therefore urged Nigerians to be patient with the government as the policies of the federal government and the CBN were to create jobs, check inflation and ensure steady economic growth.
