The Grant Community Decide Movement (GCDM), on behalf of members of the Grant Ecosystem across Nigeria, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene in the resolution and payment of outstanding grants purported sourced from international donors over 11 years ago.
The movement, in a letter addressed to Tinubu, called for an investigation into the status of the grant, payments, verification of eligible beneficiaries and a clear roadmap for resolving the matter in line with established government procedures and commitments.
The Grant Community Decide Movement says prolonged delays have caused financial hardship, needless deaths, rivalry amongst subscribers and stakeholders, just as the group said the blame game has pitched Nigerians against each other.
The appeal letter was signed by the President of GCDM, Amb. Prof. Greg Stephens, and made available to newsmen in WARRI, Delta State, on behalf of the Grant Ecosystem, saying that the prolonged uncertainty surrounding the payments had caused considerable anxiety, financial hardship and tension among affected subscribers and their families.
The group urged the President to direct the relevant authorities to provide an official update on the status of the grants, outline the steps being taken to address the issue and announce a realistic timeline for its resolution.
The Grant Ecosystem comprises different groups and individuals, including Grant Fighters, pressure groups, grant handlers, stakeholders, coordinators, non-governmental organisations, cooperative heads and other participants in the grant initiative.
According to the movement, its members are spread across Nigeria’s 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory and communities nationwide.
GCDM said it remained committed to constructive engagement with the Tinubu administration, stressing the need for dialogue between the government and those affected by the outstanding payments.
The movement argued that resolving the issue would provide an opportunity to strengthen public confidence in government, demonstrate responsiveness to citizens’ concerns and promote greater trust between the administration and members of the Grant Ecosystem.
It also requested an opportunity for its representatives to meet with the appropriate government authorities to clarify outstanding issues, establish the status of the grants and identify practical steps towards a resolution.
On the political implications of the matter, the group said its members would continue to exercise their democratic rights responsibly and make electoral decisions based on their convictions, expectations and assessment of the performance of public office holders.
It expressed hope that a timely and satisfactory resolution of the outstanding payments would contribute positively to public confidence in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The letter, described by the movement as an expression of the collective concerns and expectations of members of the Grant Ecosystem, also reaffirmed its willingness to engage with the government through established channels.
GCDM appealed to Tinubu to give the matter urgent attention, expressing confidence in his administration’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerians.
The movement said it hoped the intervention would bring clarity to the prolonged issue and provide a practical path towards resolving the outstanding payments to eligible beneficiaries.