By Taibat Ummi Yakubu
The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has called on the Federal Government to take urgent and decisive measures to address the worsening insecurity across the country and review the national minimum wage to reflect current economic realities.
Speaking at the Society’s 2026 Second Quarter Dinner and the conferment of Fellowship on more than 214 engineers in Abuja on Thursday, NSE President, Ali Rabiu, expressed concern over the growing wave of insecurity and the increasing economic hardship facing Nigerians.
Rabiu condemned the rising cases of kidnappings and abductions, particularly those involving teachers, pupils and other innocent citizens, describing the trend as unacceptable.
“The indiscriminate abduction of teachers, pupils and other innocent citizens is unacceptable and demands urgent and sustained action by the relevant authorities,” he said.
According to him, the protection and welfare of citizens remain the primary responsibility of government and should take precedence over political interests and electoral considerations.
“We believe strongly that a responsible government should prioritise the wellbeing of its citizens above all else, including considerations such as re-election campaigns. The security and welfare of the people must remain the foremost objective of governance,” he stated.
The NSE president also urged the government to undertake a substantial upward review of the national minimum wage, citing the harsh economic conditions and rising cost of living confronting workers across the country.
“As a responsible corporate citizen, the Nigerian Society of Engineers joins other well-meaning Nigerians in calling on government to consider a substantive upward review of the national minimum wage for Nigerian workers,” he said.
Rabiu maintained that Nigeria possesses the resources and capacity to improve the quality of life of its citizens if the necessary political will and commitment are demonstrated.
He stressed the need for stronger collaboration among government, professional bodies, academia, industry and other stakeholders to address the country’s challenges, while urging authorities to be more responsive to the needs of the populace.
While acknowledging that political activities ahead of future elections were gathering momentum, Rabiu said democracy could only thrive when citizens were safe, healthy and economically empowered.
He further expressed concern over rising inflation and the soaring cost of petroleum products, noting that many Nigerians now struggle to afford transportation to their workplaces due to high fuel prices.
According to him, petrol currently sells for an average of about N1,350 per litre, a situation he said has placed enormous pressure on households and businesses nationwide.
The NSE president reiterated the society’s commitment to supporting governments at all levels in the pursuit of national development, while calling for urgent action to improve security and ease the economic burden on citizens.
