Nigerian Government Calls Emergency Meeting in Response to Planned Nationwide Protest.

In reaction to a nationwide protest scheduled for August 1, 2024, the Nigerian government has called an emergency meeting for this Wednesday. This is in line with a July 23, 2024, circular titled "Planned Nationwide Protest," which is signed by Richard Pheelangwah, Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Affairs Office.

It said,  “I am directed to invite you to attend a meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on the above subject slated as follows: July 24, 2024, Time: 10 am prompt, Venue: Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Conference Room.” 

The meeting was called after Nigerians were urged to call off the scheduled protest by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through Minister of Information Mohammed Idris. The Minister claimed that Tinubu's administration needed more time to carry out people-oriented initiatives in a Tuesday interview with state house correspondents. “On the issue of the planned protest, Mr President does not see any need for that. He asked them to shelve that plan and he has asked them to await the government’s response to all their pleas,” he said.

The scheduled demonstration coincides with Nigeria's worsening circumstances, as core and food inflation have risen to 34.19 percent and 40.87 percent, respectively. The implications have persisted in having an effect on commodity prices as Nigerians' purchasing power declines.

Notwithstanding the minimum salary of N70,000 being approved recently and passed by the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday, Nigerians had insisted on the protest.

The demonstration was sparked by a month-long demonstration in Kenya when people demanded that the government there reverse the Finance Act and other anti-policies.