Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday deferred to Nigerians protesting the poor living conditions in the country, which has been made worse by the lingering economic recession.
In his opening remarks at a consultative forum between the Economic Management Team and members of the organised private sector on the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery Growth Plan to be launched later this month, Osinbajo said: “We hear you loud and clear. You deserve a decent life and and we are working night and day to make life easier.”
Continuing, he further assured the protesters that the Federal Government is not oblivious of their yearnings.
“We hear you loud and clear, those who are on the streets protesting the economic situation and even those who are are not, but feel the pain of economic hardship.”
Osinbajo recalled the words of President Muhammadu Buhari a few months ago when he said: “I know that uppermost in your minds today is the economic crisis, the recession for many individuals and families is real. For some it means not being able to pay school fees, for others it is not being able to afford the high cost of rice, millet, or of local or international travel. And for many of our young people the recession means joblessness, sometimes after graduating from university or polytechnic.
“I know how difficult things are, and how rough business is. All my adult life I have always earned a salary, and I know what it is like when your salary simply is not enough. In every part of our nation people are making incredible sacrifices,” the President had added.
Osinbajo urged Nigerians to work together steadfastly and patiently for the much anticipated economic change, noting that “the journey out of the damage caused by years of neglect and corruption is bound to be difficult, but there is a glorious light at the end of the tunnel.