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In the twinkling of an eye, the Federal Government, through oil subsidy removal, threw millions of Nigerians into Hell. No executive meeting was held. Of course, no cabinet was in place to hold such meeting. The masses were not consulted. In the eyes of our rulers, Nigerian masses are worthless. Seeking our opinion is a waste of time and, of course, too condescending. No serious thought on the consequences of oil subsidy removal. Rulers who are interested in ruling—not in governance—hardly think of the consequences of their actions. When they finally thought of palliative, it was a ridiculous daily N53 per every “lucky” wretched Nigerian for six months, a humungous N149 million per each law maker, and other Nigerians, in their millions, are to get nothing.
Let’s think as they think and conclude that the oil subsidy removal will bring some long term benefits, are there plans to extend these “benefits” to the dying masses who must have been in their graves before the so-called benefits arrive? From what region of the world did Nigerian Government import her put-the-cart-before-the-horse policy? Take for instance the much touted students loan. The loan has not been made available to students, but school fees have skyrocketed to hit the roof. I am not, by this, reading any altruistic meaning to the loan, I have written to warn against it that it is a landmine awaiting gullible Nigerian students. But if the loan is really meant to cushion effects of hike in fees as purported, why not make it available before the hike. The loan is supposedly meant for students in the higher institutions. I don’t have any earthly idea on what the Government has in the offing for students in unity schools with the recent hike in school fees that is tsunamic (from N45, 000 to N100, 000).
Any serious, contemplative, and reasonable administrator will provide cushion for a pain before inflicting it (that is if the pain must be inflicted for common good as claimed). What Nigerian Government has just displayed is what a poorly trained dentist does with their patient—they extract the aching tooth then apply the anesthesia. Worse than a quack doctor, the Government could still not apply the anesthesia (palliative) after the ruthless extraction of the ailing tooth (oil subsidy). It is still confused—perhaps needs to be schooled—about the kind of anesthesia that is appropriate for the stifling pain. Nigerians are in pain. Nigerians are fuming and pushed to the wall.
While Nigerians are adjusting and readjusting to adjust as if adjustment has not been made, the Kwara State Government rolled out its palliatives. This is not the first time. Recall that two months ago, his Excellency AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq was the first governor to positively react to the yelling of the masses in the state he was elected to govern by reducing workweek to three (3) days. He was widely celebrated—I wrote to celebrate him on this page. Surprisingly, however, the Governor rescinded that pro-masses policy less than a month of its implementation. I was personally crestfallen. I am, of course, not a beneficiary but I knew the policy abated the sufferings of many. Lamenting, in an article titled “50% Reduction In School Fees: Your Excellency Are You For Real?”, I wrote:
“This cold attitude of those in the corridor of power informs skepticism of skeptics, like my humble self, about the ability of elected leaders in Nigeria to address the sufferings of the poor. Is Governor AbdulRazaq not capable of making the Kwarans smile? This is one interpretation of this counter-directive. Or how else does one understand that directive somersault? The major problem of elected officials in Nigeria is the will power—commitment and consistency—to deliver. This is if we assumed there are among them those who actually want to deliver. If Kaduna State or its civil service, did not collapse, having sustained its 4-day workweek for barely two years now, why shouldn’t other states give it a trial in the face of this killing cost of living—particularly cost of transportation—to ameliorate sufferings of ordinary civil servants?” After this lamentation, I had a second thought and concluded that “Perhaps his Excellency has other palliative packages unknown to the rest of us.”
The palliatives unknown to us are now revealed and being rolled out. Like the earlier intervention of workweek days reduction, Kwara State came first again in rolling out palliatives after the most recent hike in pump price which is like a declaration of war by the Government against the masses. But would Kwara State’s palliatives be the best and the most comprehensive? I don’t know. What does the palliative entail? It is, as reported by Daily Post, a multi-billion naira and a multi-sectoral palliative meant to address citizens’ sufferings. The most visible of it is cash support of N10, 000 to every public sector worker in the state which will begin this month (July) and shall last until a new minimum wage is introduced to enable workers cope with the economic shock created by the subsidy removal.
Also from the month of July, new hazard and skipping allowances and 100% CONMESS for consultants and medical doctors under the government’s payroll have been approved. This is in addition to a new regime of allowances for nurses working for the state government. The Governor also endorsed immediate cash-backing (not mouth-backing) for 2019 and 2020 promotion for Teaching Service Commission workers, as well as the 2021 promotion exercise of teaching and non-teaching staff of SUBEB and restoration of steps to all of them. This means, unlike health workers, no new special packages for teachers whose rewards are said to be in Heaven. What of teachers who will end up in Hell? I think it is deceptive to suspend teachers’ rewards to Heaven. Please let’s reward them now.
That is not all, their is also an approval of the extension of free bus rides for students of tertiary institutions in the state while modalities for the occasional distribution of food to the poor and most vulnerable households are to be activated in the next few days. What is more, the Governor has also approved the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP) to activate N500m worth of conditional support for petty traders and MSMEs in the state. I hope this will be judiciously managed and well monitored. There are always loopholes for exploitation in this kind of intervention except if the State has the statistics of petty traders across the state to work with. Otherwise, the petty traders will be like the phony and phantom Federal Government’s 12 million households which exist only in the imagination of those that figured it out.
The state government also plans to make fertilizers and grains available to boost farming outputs and food security in the state. It will be setting up a committee to curb the prevalent extortionist tendencies—especially the arbitrary fixing of prices of foodstuffs. It will be re-introducing the 3-day workweek which it initially stopped for civil servants—except those on essential duties. This is laudable.
Now compare Kwara State palliative to that of the “Eleyi of Ogun State,” it is gulf apart. In Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun will begin the distribution of cash palliative of N10, 000 to public servants in the state which will last for three months; then probably reviewed. That is all. It is not very clear is if the cash would be paid along with salaries or public servants would have to queue like beggars, the phrase “distribution of cash palliative of N10, 000” gives the impression that it will be table payments. Other governors are working on different palliatives in their respective states. While we wait to see what they roll out, kudos to Kwara State Governor for his relative comprehensive palliatives. Though it is still a promise, and I am a skeptic; as I write, salaries are not paid in the State. However, let’s be optimistic that the Governor will fulfil all the palliative promises.
But what is the use of palliative in Hell? Dear President Tinubu! Take Nigerians out of this Hell, then give palliatives for the burns sustained.
Abdulkadir Salaudeen
salahuddeenabdulkadir@gmail.com
