It is amazing to see President Bola Tinubu and members of his administration panicking and holding marathon meetings, all in a bid to quell the protest that begins today, August 1, 2024. Truth be told, Tinubu is the architect of his own misfortune. Yes, former President Muhammadu Buhari indeed wreaked havoc on our economy, but Tinubu has worsened the situation through his unthoughtful declaration that “fuel subsidy is gone” on his first day in office, and the follow-up policy of “floating the naira” in an import-dependent economy.
Well, the deed has already been done, hence we must all be looking for the way forward and most importantly how to use urgent government pronouncements or policies to stop the protest from being prolonged, and not threatening the citizens not to come out to perform their constitutionally guaranteed right. These two policies( subsidy removal and exchange rate unification) have brought hunger and inflation to our land, thereby causing untold hardship, unemployment, anger, wide inequality, suicide, etc. to the hardworking people of this blessed nation. Under Tinubu’s watch as president, insecurity is still a menace, preventing people from going to their farms. Another policy the current administration has implemented is an increase in electricity tariff which has made local manufacturers pass the high cost of production to consumers. Amid these biting economic policies, both the executive and legislature have been grossly insensitive. Rather than toeing the path of reducing the cost of governance, the Federal Government continues to maintain an enlarged cabinet, while federal lawmakers went ahead to buy expensive sport utility vehicles.
Nevertheless, it has been said that Nigerians are the easiest to govern because they do not ask for too much from their leaders. All they want are the basic things of life that make living convenient to a reasonable extent. To avert possibly stop the #EndBadGovernance protest, Tinubu must ensure that at least, two of our state-owned refineries become operational within the shortest possible time. He needs to some hard measures by removing government officials de-marketing Nigeria through their reckless public statements;
Tinubu must give the Central Bank of Nigeria the marching orders to protect the naira. He should direct the CBN to ensure accountability and transparency in forex transactions. The commercial banks and Bureau de Change operators must be closely monitored in how they manage the forex that they receive from the CBN. Also, he should subsidise electricity tariff and work towards improving the power supply in the nation. In the same way the National Anthem Bill was speedily passed, the Federal Government should also lobby the National Assembly, and state Houses of Assembly to urgently pass the State Police bill so that the fight against insecurity can produce results. The Tinubu administration needs to stop sharing money and handouts to faceless people. Eradicating poverty is by implementing economic policies that create jobs.
If Tinubu means well for the country, it should be difficult for him to implement the policies enunciated above. I hope he does that for the good of the nation and restore the hope of the common man.
Abiodun Jogunola can be reached via ab.jogunola@gmail.com
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