It just occurred to me we are finished. I mean salary earners in my beloved country, Nigeria. This is most especially, those who work in the private sector. The economy is getting bad, prices are going up, salary is neither increasing nor the increase meeting up with the change.
Today is the 6th day of August, many salary earners have spent more than half of their salary. Having settled previous month debt, they are left with less than half of their salary which cannot go beyond the middle of the month.
- How did we get here?
- What kind of life is this?
- Is this the promise or what we bargained for?
- Is this what we voted for?
- When will this hardship come to an end?
For those who do not know, it is as bad as this. Inflation is heading to 20%. Everything in the market has tripled. People spend more than their salary on feeding. No one talks about savings.
However, three years back when inflation was in single digit, life was bearable. Salary earners could save out of their earnings. Prices of items in the market were not in any way near what we have today. A lot of Nigerians can testify to this. The economic situation of Nigeria is in shambles, in disarray due to poor policies.
Consequences of Economic Down Turn in Nigeria
The number of children out of school has increased as many parents cannot take care of their children's school fees.
There is noticeable increase in the social vices.
Agitation for secession all over the country as a result of marginalization.
I do not belong to the league of people who believe that Nigeria is a failed state. Nigeria's problem is one, and that can be solved within a very short period.
The problem is LEADERSHIP
Nigeria is a blessed country. Human and material resources are in abundance. There is no state out of the 36 component states in Nigeria that is not more naturally endowed than Switzerland and other European countries where our politicians launder our public money to. Nigeria is blessed with fertile soil for agriculture, Savannah in the north, rainforest in the south, almost absence of natural disasters.
The questions remain:
- What then has happened?
- How did we get here?
- Is this what we bargained for?
Nigeria is not lucky with leadership. This justifies the saying that no one is 100% complete. We have other things every country desires but cheated with leadership gift. This manifests in the relationship amongst the three arms of government, in their policy initiation, formulation, articulation, and Implementation, and in their wasteful life style.
The economic situation of the country is evidence of their leadership prowess.
I didn't know the situation is as bad as this until I received July pay, went to market last Friday, and when I returned I REALISED WE ARE ALL DEAD IF SOMETHING IS NOT DONE URGENTLY.
THE END
