The phony called palliative

It is a norm for governments in many nations of the world to ease the pain of people in times of crisis in form of palliatives. Palliatives help to address the issue of food insecurity and financial difficulties in cases of natural disaster and economic and financial hardship.

Nigeria has been going through unpleasant phases and has had many of its citizens groaning since the removal of subsidy on fuel. It will be recalled that upon assumption of office on May 29,2023, President Bola Tinubu announced the immediate removal of fuel subsidy and explained why this was necessary. This has affected almost every aspect of the economy and the Nigerian people are bearing the brunt.

As a way of easing the pain the sudden increase in the prices of petrol and diesel which caused the people, some state governments announced additional payment of N10,000 monthly to public sector workers while some announced allowances for medical personnel and occasional distribution of foodstuffs to their people. There are also free bus rides for students of tertiary institutions by other state governments as their own way of easing transportation stress on the people.  Some states also reduced the number of days workers come to the office.

The Federal Government, on its part, made an announcement of plans to give the most vulnerable households in the country the sum of N8,000 as a form of palliative, but millions of Nigerians were against this as expressed through virtual and physical channels. The social media was agog with the way people protested against such a step, claiming it was a wrong option. Many queried how the ‘most vulnerable households’ will be determined and considered criteria the government will use to do justice to this. Questions were also asked about which category the government will put a salary earner who is paid N100,000 per month. If at the end of the month, a salary earner cannot save N5,000 from his salary, then it is nothing to take home. What about artisans whose survival is based on daily wages?

Some claimed government has always been in the habit of making empty promises as dividends of democracy go to only those who belong and their families and acquaintances while those who should truly benefit from palliatives are not involved in the real sense of it. Many Nigerians are of the opinion that the packages to be given out as palliatives should instead be used to address some of the core problems the country is facing.

Still, the government went ahead with the disbursement of funds and it was reported that a sum of N5 billion was released which was shared among the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory. Some states claim they added to what the Federal Government doled out and have since begun sharing palliatives to the people. Food items like rice, groundnut oil and garri are being distributed to the people through their local governments.

Well, I think the measure the government is taking is temporary and it seems it has no plan to find permanent solutions with the way things are being done. Officials in government are not addressing the root but cutting the branches and as long as that is the case, there can be no headway. What happens to refurbishing the refineries, providing additional means of transportation, electricity and even boosting the agricultural sector? If the money being shared is used judiciously in any of these important sectors, the Nigerian populace would be better for it as opposed to giving succour that won’t last in form of money or food.

Moreover, one wonders why the naira can’t be strengthened. As of today, a dollar is N935 naira while it is between N915 and N920 at the black market. As long as the prices of goods are affected by the way the dollar is rising, any palliative given would be swallowed up. As it stands, the government does not seem to be in control of the rise of the dollar. Until this is addressed, the nation may just be on merry-go-rounds of impossible solutions. If people were given stipends but are not able to do anything tangible with them due to the high cost of goods, of what use are they? Or is the government capable of providing food for over 200 million people till eternity?

In addition, what stops the government from crashing the cost of governance? Every Nigerian hears the news of how the federal and state governments lavish money on the members of the legislature and the executive. People in governance, their friends and families live in luxury at the expense of tax payers. Running a bicameral legislature in a country so heavily indebted is financially draining and massively depleting the federation account. Why do we need two chambers at this time in the history of our country? Why approve disbursement of money for cars to lawmakers when majority of the people are living in penury?

What about facing the agricultural sector and making food surplus by equipping farmers to produce quality farm products and improve in-house food production. Mechanised farming will go a long way to boost the hardwork of Nigerian farmers.

In the same vein, if the N5 billion naira has been moved to, maybe two of our refineries to make  them functional and better, there would have been excess production of fuel locally and we won’t be needing to go abroad to refine a product we get from within the corners of our own country.  Nigeria is the only oil-producing country in the world without a functional refinery! We should start producing and stop consuming only.

If the N5 billion naira was used in any of the above-mentioned ways, Nigerians would have clapped and applauded this administration. Many will be contented to buy the food products and fuel produced via this avenue if they are sold at very cheap rate and won’t need anyone to give them food that may not last a week. Giving hand-me-downs to citizens won’t alleviate poverty. Only good governance will.

• Ishola is a journalist with the Nigerian Tribune.