By Sandra Kenneth
The South-South Youths Initiative has strongly criticized the Federal Government’s proposed 70,000-naira transport support for Nigerian workers, describing the palliative as narrow and lacking a holistic approach to the severe economic hardship facing the citizenry.
Speaking on the initiative, the National President of the South-South Youths Initiative, Imeabe Saviour-Osca, stated that while any form of relief is welcome, the government’s strategy fails to consider the broader population. He questioned the fate of ordinary citizens—such as farmers, traders, artisans, unemployed youths, and market women—who are not captured on the government payroll.
“Who will take care of the transport and daily affairs of those who are not government workers?” Saviour-Osca queried, asking whether the current national crisis is solely about transportation costs.
The youth leader pointed out that the economic burden on Nigerians goes far beyond transit fares, highlighting that citizens are currently battling hyper-inflation, exorbitant food prices, unaffordable healthcare, soaring electricity tariffs, and the collapse of small businesses.
The group has therefore called on the Federal Government to discard piecemeal measures and formulate a comprehensive, inclusive economic recovery plan capable of cushioning the impact of its policies on all Nigerians, rather than a privileged few.
