OBSERVATION: One Year Of Misery In The Midst Of Plenty

By Yaya Ademola

Since the very day of his inauguration as the 16th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has begun launching successive neo-liberal policy attacks against Nigerians, especially the poor.On the inauguration ground, he declared, “oil subsidy is gone” which immediately translated into increment in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (fuel) from N195 to N600; and now over N700 in Osun where I reside. The resultant effect of that not well-thought-out policy is a skyrocket increase in the price of everything, especially transport, food items and other consumables.

As I write, seven pieces of Bonney peppers also known as Caribbean red peppers (Ata Rodo) is N200 while 13 pieces of tomatoes are sold at N1,000. Ditto to all other soup making condiments. An average Nigerian cannot afford meat or fish; even cow skin (ponmo) that is taken for granted as poor man’s meat is no longer affordable. Garri that is used to be poor man’s food has become gold in the market as 1 kg (Congo) is sold N1,500. Things were made worse when the government spiced fuel subsidy removal with the floating of Naira which, expectedly, crashed against all other international currencies which has also led to prohibitive increases in the prices of imported goods and services.

Although, the government initiated some artificial interventions to save Naira, that only temporarily worked as it is only production and productivity that could determine the strength of any currency which is mere means of exchange and store of value. The twin policies of fuel subsidy removal and floating of Naira automatically make business environment unfriendly; hence, mass movement of many business entrepreneurs out of Nigeria with attendant loss of jobs while the remaining few are battling tooth and nail to remain in the business.

With all these negative developments, one would have thought that sooner than later, the Tinubu led APC government would review its neo-liberal policies to constructing a new socio-economic path that would break away from the previous line and make people productive for a better life and promising future. Instead, it is more vicious attacks which suggest that the government is hell-bent in its determined efforts to snuff life out of the poor people. On 3rd April, 2024, it tactically began the process of increasing electricity tariff through a fraudulent banding classification – A, B, C, D and E.

The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), on behalf of the government, increased electricity tariff of ‘Band A’ from N66 to N225 kilowatt per hour, claiming that people under this classification will be supplied between 20 to 24hrs electricity per day. The regime was simply using the banding to testing the water for eventual increase on all electricity subscribers. While the government claims that people on Band ‘A’ could afford over 300% tariff increase, investigations reveal that several indigents–pensioners, civil servants, artisans, petty traders and unemployed also reside within the band area. While most people are considering solar power alternative, the cost of procuring it is not easy as other household necessities like food, electricity, etc, have eroded people economic power. People have to spend N40,000 to get same units they used N12,000 for in a country where government is foot-dragging the new minimum wage since 2023.

But the organised labour said, ‘No, it is unacceptable!’ Based on the threat to picketing Disco and IBEDC offices nationwide, NERC quickly bowed to pressure and approved a downward review of the end-users tariffs for Band ‘A’ from N225/kwh to N206.8/kwh. But on Monday, 13th May, 2024, NLC and TUC carried out their threat, picketing all Disco and IBEDC offices nationwide as a warning to Federal Government and have threatened national strike with one week ultimatum unless NERC reverts to status quo ante-N66/kwh.

Under the guise to stop or reduce kidnapping and arrest recipients of ransom payments, the APC led Federal Government has mandated Point-of-Sales operators nationwide to register with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) within 60 days which will expire by 7th July, 2024. Yes, every effort must be geared towards security but what has become the known sponsors of terrorism and other crimes? Are they untouchable? Why making life horrible for the poor under the guise of ‘security’? Already, most ATM machines don’t dispense cash which has become routine and people have adjusted to it. POS operators who serve as an alternative charge between N100 and N200 per N5,000. With compulsory CAC registration within 60 days, which is cumbersome exercise as it will be processed centrally in Abuja despite the fact that there are CAC offices in all the states of the federation, the money spent for the registration and other inconveniences will be borne by the poor people who patronise POS eventually. Again, it will serve as another avenue for bad eggs in the police to harass and extort poor people who eke out living in POS business who are estimated to be 2million nationwide based on the POS terminals in circulation.

If not for Mr. Femi Falana’s (SAN) timely intervention in clarifying on wrongly interpreted provisions of Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act 2024, Central Bank of Nigeria had publicly circulated a memo dated 6th May, 2024, imposing 0.005% of the value of all electronics transactions with commercial banks to be remitted to the National Cybersecurity Fund, to be administered by the Office of the National Security Adviser; a singular public office.

There are other taxes I deliberately refuse to mention because they do not apply to everybody. Each of these neo-liberal attacks has been launched in quick successions within one year of the administration. Just as they did recommend to Ibrahim Babangida military administration – Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) that resulted in pains, misery and push of more people into poverty, every APC led Federal Government policy above is the prescription designed and recommended by same Bretton Woods Institutions – the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank. Interestingly, as more people are being pushed into poverty, so the members of the ruling elite steal resources being systematically taken away from the poor. Under this circumstance, a divination is not required to ascertain that development will continue to elude any country that operates like ours – follows and plays along with IMF satanic recommendations.

Although, the leadership of the organised labour is trying its best, it is not enough. The civil society coalition should buckle up and rally round the labour to mobilising people for struggle for better living and working conditions. It is, most importantly, high time the poor people stopped agonising, suffering and dying in silence. They need to engage the government and fight against its neo-liberal policies that have made their lives miserable. Experiences have shown that if we fight we may win; if we don’t, we have lost already.