President of the African Institute of Enterprise Development and Management, Mr. Ladipo Johnson, has called on Nigerians to wake up from their slumber and take positive steps that could rescue the nation from further slide amidst the prevailing yoke of poverty.



Johnson, who is also the convener of the NGO, The Johnson Initiative for Positive Impact in a statement at the weekend noted that the Federal Government through its economic policies had enslaved Nigerians and regretted that the people have had to accept such tough policies thereby adding to their recurring suffering.



He observed in particular the increased rate of the Value Added Tax (VAT) to 7.5% and other related taxes on consumer goods and services, including the graduated percentages of up to 6% stamp duty to be enforced on rental and lease agreements, which Nigerians have been subjected to by the government.



He criticised the development as "unhealthy and insensitive" and one which should be reviewed.



He also drew attention to the different corruption allegations and charges against prominent government officials, pointing out that the revelations of huge corruption at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and the mind boggling accusations against the erstwhile Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were crimes (if proven), against the people of the country.



Johnson charged Nigerians to rise up and ask relevant questions from the government on the need to ameliorate the situation which, he said, was becoming unbearable to the masses.

He stated: "The Federal government should as a matter of urgency come to the rescue of the people who are now being suffocated by the increasing rates of VAT and sundry charges.



"The people should get some reasonable level of economic reprieve especially in the face of the prevailing economic situation with little disposable income amidst suffering and deep poverty. Everywhere you see poverty even as the government does not seem to care. The government is taxing and spending ridiculously and has not taken any concrete steps to reduce its size or wasteful spending! Yet the wave of corruption raging menacingly in government is baffling.

"But now the people must ruminate on the reason government exists in the first place and make their voices heard. I pray that this government listens by implementing commonsencical economic policies to help ease the hardship in the land".

Naija Youths are docile they are still watching BBN