Its like this... direct killing, like the one happening in the Boko Harcam-ravaged states. Some human beings have to be eliminated for the country to move forward. So, for anyone Boko Haram gunned down, it is one less of the bad guys in our society; such people are not fit to co-habit with decent individuals.
There is also the indirect killing; this can assume various forms; usually, it involves third parties(Government). It is happening everyday in our society, through money driven individuals in corporate organisations who believe more in the turnover of the business, than in the welfare of the workers.
Perhaps, the greatest killer under the indirect category is the government. People are dying daily by the actions and in actions of the government and the civil servants initiating these killer policies for self pleasure
It is a known fact that every policy of government automatically makes millionaires of some people – usually, a very negligible percentage – while it results in the impoverishment and death of many others. Incidentally, the people we have placed there to see to the welfare of our common patrimony, seem to be oblivious of the consequences of their actions.
In those days, the civil service was not an attraction for the brightest amongst fresh applicants from the universities and other tertiary institutions, usually the private sectors – banks, oil companies, blue chips et al – are preferred. Now days, a job in government civil service or parastatal is more preferred. This is because, the job is secure, no matter what happens; the salary is guaranteed and paid – courtesy of NLC – and they do not have to be target driven to remain on their jobs. Moreover, their salaries are now being subsidised by so many unearned incomes – ten percent, bribes, outright stealing – who will challenge them?
These ones, who are government agents, sit in their offices and begin to churn out decrees, laws and policies that are stifling to the ordinary man out there struggling to make ends meet. They swoop on offices and harass genuine business concerns struggling to make ends meet. If the people are unable to accede to their demands, the business premises are put under locks and keys until they pay, albeit through their nose(s). It is extortion at the highest level. It is happening at the federal level, it is happening in Lagos and virtually, all of the states in the federation. In the name of multiple taxes and levies, honest business concerns are being run out of business. Usually, the greater percentage of amount paid goes into their individual pockets, while a paltry amount is paid into the government coffer to fulfil all righteousness. Rumour has it that 80% of the landed properties in Abuja belong to civil servants, politicians and other government agents. We all know what the true take home remuneration is for an average civil servant. If you calculate all of the amount he will earn throughout his working life, it cannot fetch him a bungalow at the heart of Abuja; but, here we are, with civil servants owning duplexes, not one or two but multiples.
Our government contractors are crying, the civil servants register phony businesses and award the contracts to themselves; whether it is executed or not, payment is made, as long as there are papers to cover up the transactions. The only set of people happy in this country are the politicians, civil servants and workers of other Federal Government agencies.
That is why they sit down and pass out policies that are not favourable to the ordinary Nigerian. Meanwhile, they will be the ones shouting ‘ Patriotism’ and behind, they carry out sabotage. For example: why is it impossible for our Customs to put a halt to rice smuggling?
Our officials in the agric, trade and investments, and the finance ministries, came up with a policy to encourage local rice production. This is patriotic and encouraging – one might say - but if you consider the fact that this policy has encouraged smuggling of over four million metric tonnes of rice from neighbouring countries in one year alone, you will, like me, be having a different opinion. This policy has increased smuggling across the borders, more than a hundred fold, while our local production is threatened. Smugglers are smiling to the bank, the government in Cotonou is happy, while genuine, patriotic men and women in the Nigerian rice business are being run aground.
What kind of government will institute policies that will favour other countries to the detriment of its own citizens. The people of Benin Republic do not consume parboiled rice, so all the rice imported into Cotonou are destined for Nigeria. Rice import through the land border is supposed to be banned, but now it comes in droves like traffic along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
What is the solution? The government should be engaged in guided or phased import substitution programmes. As long as what we produce locally cannot take care of the Nigerian market, there will be room for smuggling. To eliminate smuggling therefore, the duty should be at par with what obtains in our neighbouring countries. Presently the difference is too wide – Nigeria 110%; Benin 35%, now reduced to 5-15% . There is no way our importers can bring in goods and make profit as the current tariff stands.
Government must enter into a partnership with all the Nigerian stakeholders to make the local rice production a reality and not through fiat. I was in a gathering of rice distributors and they voted to continue patronising smuggled rice because our importers are not bringing rice in.
Our policies must encourage our local players – importers. The same should be extended to thetokunboh vehicles and and fish import policies.
It is wrong policies that caused the immigration interview deaths.
The happiness of the people is the responsibility of the government, our policy formulators must help us.
Sunny Ikhioya a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.
No comments:
Post a Comment