The Federal Government recent approval of N5 billion for each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to enable them procure food items for distribution to the poor in their respective states, has again brought to the fore the time honuored belief that in Nigeria’s leadership corridor, once a direction is chosen, instead of examining process meticulously and set the right course; one that will allow us to overcome storm and reach safety, many obstinately persist with the execution of such plans regardless of a minor or major shift in circumstance.
The approval which comes in the wake of the hike in cost of food items, and petroleum owing to the removal of subsidy on the commodity, also reportedly saw the Federal Government release five trucks of rice each to the 36 state governors while the state governors on their parts are to procure 100,000 bags of rice, 40,000 bags of maize, and fertilizers. 52 per cent of the funds were given to the state governments as grants with 48 per cent as loans.
To a reasonable extent, the Federal Government’s present efforts is commendable, especially as it is unthinkable that anyone will oppose social welfare provision for the poor and vulnerable in the present Nigeria where poverty currently drives more people into the rank of beggars, whose desperate struggle for bread now renders them insensitive to all feelings of decency and self-respect.
Despite these ‘virtues and attributes, this piece is, however, worried about the Federal Government’s understanding, and unitary approach to the palliatives disbursement. The modality is not only self defeating, misguided and off track but capped with capacity to short-change and hand twist the targeted beneficiaries by the mighty and powerful.
This particular assertion, as the subsequent paragraphs shall further reveal, is predicated on the past but similar ugly experiences.
Take as an illustration, the Federal Government need not wait to be told that state governments are the greatest enemies of the poor and vulnerable Nigerians particularly those at the grassroots. And therefore, cannot and will never be trusted as best courier for dispatching; ‘goodies’ such as food items to helpless and hapless Nigerians in their various states.
Undoubtedly, there exists possibility of these items being syphoned off, lost on transit or hidden in unidentified warehouses till they get expired. If at all it gets to the people, it will certainly not be in the right quantity and proportion.
Further supporting the above claim is the trauma suffered by the poor in the hands of some state governors during the Corona Virus pandemic – as similar palliatives by the Federal Government handed over to these state governments for onward dispatch/benefits of Nigerians at the grassroots never got to them, but were against all known logic diverted and stored in different private warehouses for yet to be identified reason(s).
In fact, it will equally not be surprising if some of these governors dispense the given palliatives in similar ways they manage Federal Allocations accruable to local government Councils in their states.
Viewed broadly, the palliative aside from demonstrating again that Nigeria is still a nation laced with culture of tackling challenges with the same thinking used when it was created and, ‘‘doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, the latest decision by the Federal Government more than anything else shows that the nation is still governed by a set of leaders preoccupied with high propensity to consume than saving or investing into the future.
Tragically unique is the fact that this unhealthy policy anchored primarily on consumption without sustainable guarantee for rights to food of Nigerians, is regrettably coming just before the dust raised by a similar thoughtless policy could settle.
Recall that the same Federal Government in a similar style, a few weeks ago, announced its plans to make a digital transfer of N8, 000 to over 12 million low-income earners in Nigeria to help cushion the effects of subsidy removal, which has seen prices of commodities triple in recent weeks-a proposition that was greeted with stout resistance and criticism by well meaning Nigerians.
As noted in my recent but similar piece, written precisely during the now rested N8, 000 digital transfer to the poor debacle, the purpose of interventions such as this is not to illogically criticize the policy but to objectively understand the basic reason(s) responsible for such choices and what made it attractive to the Federal Government; and possibly challenge those fundamental assumptions.
Notably, it would have been understandable if these amounts were used to build/support standard rail system in the country that will assist the poor village farmers in Benue/Kano and other remote villages situated in the landlocked parts of the country, move their produce to the food disadvantaged cities in the south in ways that will help the poor farmers earn more money, contribute to lower food prices in Lagos and other cities through the impact on the operation of the market, increase the welfare of household both in Kano, Benue, Lagos and others while improving food security in the country, reduce stress/pressure daily mounted on Nigerian roads by articulated/haulage vehicles and drastically reduce road accidents on our major highways.
Again, it would have been pardonable if this sum earmarked for direct consumption were deployed to revitalizing the nation’s electricity sector, to re-introduce a sustainable power roadmap that will erase epileptic power challenge in the country and in its place restore the health and vitality of the nation’s socioeconomic life while improving small and medium scale business in the country.
For me, considering the slow growing economy but scary unemployment levels in the country, the Federal Government would be better appreciated by Nigerians if such an amount is invested in agriculture or used in building industries and factories of production to create employment opportunity for these poor and vulnerable Nigerians. Is the current administration unaware that it will be difficult accelerating the economic life cycle of the nation until they contemplate industrialization, or productive collaboration with private organizations that have surplus capital to create employment?
Even as this piece believes that in many ways the Tinubu administration may have a sincere desire to move poor Nigeria out of the harsh socioeconomic basement, a critical analysis of the present action by the Federal Government, regrettably, postures it as a plan embarked on without adequate feasibility study.
To catalyze the process, this piece holds the opinion that the Federal Government must become more creative in process of empowering people by coming up with more people-focused policies that connect the poor with good means of livelihood: food, jobs and security. The masses will also appreciate the President and his handlers developing/implementing plans and policies that will lead to price stability, high employment, effective regulation, trade and availability of finance for business.
Finally in my view, what Nigerians currently crave for is a palliative arrangement that cures both the effect of economic hardship in the country and its root cause. This is the only possible description.
Jerome-Mario is the programme coordinator (Media and Public Policy), Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA). He could be reached via Jeromeutomi@yahoo.com/08032725374.
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