The North-Central Agenda, a civil society organisation (CSO), has urged governors in the region to use the increase in monthly allocations to improve the lives of the poor and vulnerable.
Ene Ogbole, chairperson of the group, spoke in Abuja on Thursday at a press conference.
Ogbole said the organisation would work to address unemployment, poor education, insecurity, drug abuse, kidnapping, and political thuggery in the zone.
She said the people of the north-central have in recent years suffered “unimaginable” human agony, disaster, and security crises that have almost brought the region to its knees.
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“It is heart-warming and reassuring to know that while the prevailing challenges are resolute in ensuring that our region is reduced to the worst level of hardship and insecurity ever experienced in our political history, we are consoled by the surge in current national revenue,” she said.
“Our intervention focuses on massive social advocacy to encourage all stakeholders, both within and outside government, to use available resources for the development of the zone.”
Ogbole called on politicians across party lines to avoid heating up the polity and instead work together for national development.
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“It is our duty to let politicians know that patriotism is not about seeking power at all costs,” she said.
“It is about supporting those in government, whether we like them or not, to achieve the ultimate goal of delivering the dividends of democracy to the people, especially the poor and the vulnerable.”
She also commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing Nentawe Yilwatda as national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), noting that he will bring “contemporary ideas” to move the party forward.
Ogbole lauded the president for extending the tenure of Adewale Adeniyi, comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), citing unprecedented revenue growth and reforms under his leadership.
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