THE extension of the lockdown for another two weeks by President Muhammadu Buhari is not a bad idea on account that other counties affected by the dreadful coronavirus contagion are still under lockdown. Even countries that are more advanced in science and technology than Nigeria are all adopting the same preventive measures as specified by the World Health Organization (WHO).
However, the bad idea is to announce the lockdown extension and appeal to citizens to endure further or expect relief materials which will never get to them. At this critical time, the country cannot make a mistake of parting fishes carelessly in an environment with rats only to prepare for their deaths after tampering with the fishes.
Commendably, President Buhari noted in his speech that there will be those who live day-to-day, eating as they earn, and who face real and present suffering. He added that for those who suffer most egregiously, the government has announced multiple measures to assist: 70,000 tonnes of grain is being released from the National Strategic Grain Reserves for distribution to those in most need. Distribution of small cash payments are also being made, and will continue to be made by the federal government in the states and local government areas.
This is where there is a flaw. No doubt, Buhari, by his antecedents, may share the money to the targets without hijacking or diverting some huge amounts to his pockets if given the opportunity to do so. Similarly, few other government officials particularly the vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, may follow suit. Unfortunately, as humans, they cannot cover even one local government area within a short period putting into account the urgency the matter requires.
The truth is that people are facing critical times without having anything for feeding, and therefore, this is not time for unnecessary long protocols and processes. Interestingly, the Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) can actively be used to provide relief funds to low income earners at this critical moment. No doubt, a lot of people in the village do not have BVN. However, using it to credit relief funds to those that have will motivate those yet to go for it to make effort toward acquiring BVN for future issues.
Of course, that may not stop government from still sending relief materials to villages and specific places to complement the funds for those that do not have BVN.
The idea of sharing cash and relief materials is not only primitive but will take the corruption to another level. This is not a good time to hear that someone embezzled funds earmarked for the public.
Let the truth be told: the funds will be tampered with irrespective of whoever is responsible for sharing it. Besides, it makes the country look uncivilized for the government to be sharing cash to the vulnerable citizens which certainly cannot be accounted for.
By using bank accounts with BVN to credit relief funds to low income earners with a proviso that such credit can only go into bank accounts with less than N5,000, the fund will appropriately be directed to the suffering masses and be accounted for.. Essentially, that will also pave the way for transparency and accountability of the funds.
Carl Umegboro
08023184542
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