The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has cancelled the proposed presidential debate on Economic Policy which was scheduled to take place in Abuja on Tuesday.
This is contained in an issued press statement by the NESG Chief Executive Officer, Laoye Jaiyeola, made available to newsmen yesterday in Abuja.
Stating the reasons for the cancellation, Jaiyeola said, A critical assessment of events surrounding recent engagements with the presidential candidates, as well as subsequent statements from political parties, necessitates a review of our plans.
He, however, reiterated that NESG, with a mandate to foster establishment of economic foundation for democracy, would actively seek independent direct engagements with the candidates on critical economic policy reform issues and prescriptions.
Accordingly, the group said that the NESG was convinced that debates were essential to the election process and were increasingly regarded as the bedrock of a healthy democracy.
The cancelled presidential debate on economic policy was initiated by the NESG and the Nigerian Elections Debate Group (NEDG), facilitated by the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ).
Others include the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Enough is Enough (EiE), BudgIT, as well as Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU).
