A coalition of over 70 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, has called for the immediate removal of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, to save the deteriorating status and state of the establishment.
The CSOs have also urged the Federal Government to desist from increasing and introducing new taxes on Nigerians, particularly the proposed five per cent inclusive excise duty on telecommunications services.
The proposed increase will raise the tax to 12.5 per cent.
Situation Room Convener, Ene Obi, stated this during a state of the nation address in Abuja.
Obi lamented the heavy depletion of the Excess Crude Account (ECA), which ought to serve as a cushion to help stabilise the country’s economy.
She stressed the need for the Federal Government to activate steps to address the current economic challenges, alarming unemployment, plummeting exchange rate and financial hardship on the citizens.
She added: “The economy is at its lowest ebb as the purchasing power of Nigerians has dwindled in the face of galloping inflation. Basic domestic commodities, power, energy and transportation are out of reach for the average Nigerian.
“National unemployment rate according to the National Bureau of Statistics stands at 33.3 percent, while unemployment of the youths is 42.5 percent.”
