Every New Year, people make resolutions to better their lives, businesses, and families. However, only a few people think of how the government could contribute to the improvement of their lives while making New Year resolutions. YUSUF ABDULKADIR and AYO AKANO sought the thoughts of some Nigerians on how the government can make their lives better this year. Their views:
Folashade Oloyede
The government can make my life better by making the standard of living better. The hike in petroleum prices has resulted in inflated prices of food items, thus making survival difficult for the common man. Let the government start with a downward review of the cost of petroleum and an upward review of salary. This, in turn, would ease my life and that of many Nigerians this year.
Femi Ishola
The government should be sympathetic to the plight of the poor by introducing price-control mechanisms for goods and services at the local and international markets. Nonuniform and unstable prices of goods and services have led to unnecessary exploitation of the poor. Furthermore, the government should focus on providing scholarships to indigent students, to assist parents who are finding it difficult to sponsor their children or wards to school.
Bello Sherif-deen
We have not stopped hoping for a Nigeria that is economically stable, naturally resourced, and socially pacified. We enjoin our president and other leaders to step up all efforts and combat the security challenges facing the country, pay serious attention to the education sector, and establish development and empowerment centres/programmes to bring to the minimum a total dependence on government jobs. The government should strengthen the legal institution, such that justice and the rule of Law would prevail in equal measures upon the elite and ordinary citizens.
Yushau Abdulwasiu
The New Year is a new opportunity for the government to meet the expectations of the citizens. Nothing is impossible. The betterment of our lives depends on our government — only if our leaders could take advantage of this New Year to learn from their mistakes. With that, the government could initiate things that could make life better. Government leaders could start by fulfilling the promises they did not fullfil last year and come up with tactics of making the economy better, and other initiatives that would make life enjoyable to citizens.
Ashiat Rufai
There are several ways the government can make my life better this year. They can focus on improving healthcare and implementing policies that ensure affordable and accessible healthcare for all. The government should invest in education and create skill development initiatives that could enhance our career prospects. Implementing sustainable environmental policies can also lead to a better quality of life by promoting clean air, water, and a healthier environment. Lastly, prioritising social welfare programmes could help alleviate poverty and ensure a better standard of living for everyone.
Hamzat Abdulmuiz
My priority as a student is to experience a life devoid of financial hassle while maximising my responsibilities in school. I could envisage a better and more comfortable life for me and my fellow students this year if the government could channel more funds to education, make scholarships available for as many students as possible, and intervene in school fee hikes in some of our tertiary institutions. This would be a relief to many students and would also empower them with the strength to focus more on their studies.
Muhammedawal Onoruoyiza
The government should implement policies that favour the common man. The government-based projects and interventions should be tailored towards the needs of its common citizens. You cannot execute white-elephant projects in a farming community whose basic needs are access to clean water and good road/transportation networks for their agricultural products and think it would better their lives. I know Nigeria has all it takes to be the real giant of Africa.
Hussaini Yabo
Improving the lives of Nigerians involves addressing various factors. The government could focus on enhancing education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic opportunities — fighting inflation and strengthening the naira. Prioritising social welfare programmes, combating corruption, and promoting sustainable development can also contribute to overall improvement.
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