STATE OF ECONOMY:: NATIONAL YOUTH MOVEMENT react
National Youth Movement - NYM
The wailing wailers, Lying liars and Sai Chanji.
First and foremost , I would like to seize this opportunity to
appreciate Mr. president for wielding the political will to ride the
nation of corrupt and unscrupulous elements, the modus oprandi
not withstanding. Leadership in a complex entity like Nigeria can
be overwhelmingly perplexing.
However , I am yet to recover from after shocks of two heart
breaking captions that I observed in the national dailies the other
day; AERO CONTRACTORS TAKE LAST FLIGHT.
INNOSONS MOTORS SHUTS DOWN PRODUCTION OVER DOLLAR
SCARCITY TO IMPORT LAW MATERIALS.
As the significance of these captions sank in gradually , a terrible
nightmare became more appealing ! If you have had a terrible
nightmare in the past, then you must remember the awesome
relief that you have when you open your eyes to realize that Wow !
it was just a dream! That relief evaded me for this was no dream
but a stark reality.
I find it hard to believe that this sort of appalling economic collapse
is being witnesses in Nigeria of 2016. When we were the biggest
and fastest growing economy in Africa just a year ago. As if the
heart break was not enough, first nation airline followed suit and
closed the next day. This was just in aviation sector alone. More
heart rending it is to realize that with each closure comes a
corresponding loss of thousands of jobs in a country where over
fifty percent of her work force is already unemployed. The entire
sectors of the economy appears to be shutting down with rapid
alacrity. This is just a tip of the ice berg of companies that have
closed this year alone.
Recently, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) stated that
272 companies have shut down in the past one year.
Let me enlighten you on the significance of this fact ;
it means that the private sector is dead. QED.
It means that over a million jobs has been lost in just one year.
It means that social vices as we are already witnessing will
multiply.
It equally means that our collective future is on a great peril if there
is any.
Nigeria is in its worst economic state for 29 years —dating back to
1987 when the nation was held to ransom by harsh and reckless
government policies of 1984-85.” “The economic recession is
devastating lives and livelihoods across the country, and quickly
translating into rising unemployment among Nigerian youths,
hunger and powerlessness.
As Mr. Shehu sani rightly opined, “If you keep reforming and
reforming and the people are suffering and dying, you may reach
the Promised Land alone because by that time everyone has died.
Of what use would that be?
”
But what exactly are they reforming ?? Strangulating over 272
indigenous companies with harsh, inarticulate and clueless
economic policies ; is that their definition of reform ? For whom are
they reforming for ?
According to my able senator, Ben Bruce; “Nobody locks up money
in a vault in a recession. In fact, the hurried implementation of TSA
may be part of the reason we are in a recession.” I totally agree
with him.
At a time when the APC led administration is trumpeting
diversification of the economy , how does deliberately killing off the
private sector fit in ? Obviously , its either Mr. president does not
know the first thing about diversification or that his economic team
is grossly incompetent. Either way, crass ineptitude of this
magnitude by the executive demands an immediate overhaul of its
economic team which is not forthcoming.
Personally I believe that we are moving backward as a nation. I
am entitled to my opinion.
I do not believe that the APC led administration is competent to
manage a complex economy like Nigeria with its present crop of
ministers , finance for instance. Today, an average Nigerian is not
just hungry but starving. This is a gross violation of basic human
right of Nigerians. Increased poverty and hunger is a threat to the
right to life and health of many socially and economically
vulnerable, including women and children. To me this is the
highest form of corruption.
Twice , the bring back our girls campaigners has been lawlessly
harassed. “Today, the executive has gone into lax mode; judiciary
has become lawless; National Assembly is lacking in credibility;
INEC is troubled; politicians have gone unruly. Government says it
has no money to run the economy. I seriously doubt the ability of
the APC led administration to conduct a free and credible election
as witnessed last year. The rate at which elections are either being
inconclusive or postponed is alarming. According to Mr. Odinkalu,
“There is absolutely no reason why the executive should allow the
number of vacancies we have in INEC to be. By next month, INEC
will have 28 vacancies among RECs (Resident Electoral
Commissioners) and seven commissioners. The Executive is
carrying on as if this is normal. It isn’t.
The very first thing I expected Mr. President to do in his sincere
effort to ride the nation of corruption is to Urgently propose
legislation and constitutional amendment that would end the
practice of budgeting billions of Naira as ‘security votes’ for the
Federal Government and the 36 state governments. How do you
explain to a hungry man on the street of ajegunle that the National
Assembly budgeted and spent a whooping N115 billion in 2016
alone ? The sum of N150 billion each was allocated to the National
Assembly in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 while N115 billion was
allocated in 2015. Are they equally passing spiritual and scientific
laws that will govern the entire universe? These madness must
stop.
Cross River state government for instance budgeted the sum of
N1.4bn for entertainment and hospitality for the governor for the
year 2016. Does he take his annual vacation at Mars or Jupiter ?
There is no common sense in all these outrageous budget
allocation.
No single allocation is made to SMEs, and you wonder why we are
still resource based economy. Where does that leave the youths ?
The supposedly leaders of tomorrow?
To make matters worse, Mr. Bayo onanuga, (MD) news agency of
Nigeria , blurted that the so- called hardship under Buhari is a mere
propaganda. A desperate attempt to downplay the suffering of
millions of Nigerians. Then he rode on a tale of how his revered
daughter boarded a flight from Lagos to London just to realize that
the aircraft was over filled o . So he was expecting it to be empty ?
to really get that bad before he can acknowledge the pestilence in
the land ?
I therefore endorse SERAP recommendations for the government to
at least
;
1. Move swiftly to avoid and mitigate the negative effects of the
economic recession on human dignity and human rights of several
Nigerians living in poverty by urgently providing the socially and
economically vulnerable with social protection programs and
safety-nets to protect them from severe poverty and deprivation.
2. Immediately guarantee minimum levels of economic andsocial
rights essential for survival and human dignity, including the rights
to health, food, housing and education.
3. Fully integrate human rights principles and standards, such as
participation, transparency, accountability and redress into the
initiatives developed to respond to the economic crisis, and identify
longer-term measures that address the structural causes of the
crisis that impinge on the government’s ability to meet its human
rights obligations and responsibilities to its own citizens
This is the little I can do for my dear country as a concerned
citizen. As an ordinary Nigerian, I witness first hand the horror of
economy hardship on the masses. This is not about party politics
or ethnic bigotry. This is common sense. I urge the APC led
administration to arrest the situation quickly before it spirals out of
control.
They should not forget quickly in their euphoria of victory that Aso
rock belongs to we Nigerians. They are just tenants whose rent will
expire in 2019.
You can do your bit by SHARING this post to ensure it gets the
attention it deserves. At least to prove to skeptics like Mr. Bayo
onanuga (MD) NAN, that economic hardship is a reality, SHARE
this post and make it go viral.
This is a National Youth Movement, don’t be left out.
If you have additional insight or constructive criticism , politely
drop it in the comment box.
I also want to use this medium to wish our muslim brothers and
sisters a happy eid-el-kabir. May you witness more of it on earth,
in’sha Allah. Barka de sallah.
Sincerely,
JIM CHUKWUEMEKA.God bless Nigeria.
The wailing wailers, Lying liars and Sai Chanji.
First and foremost , I would like to seize this opportunity to
appreciate Mr. president for wielding the political will to ride the
nation of corrupt and unscrupulous elements, the modus oprandi
not withstanding. Leadership in a complex entity like Nigeria can
be overwhelmingly perplexing.
However , I am yet to recover from after shocks of two heart
breaking captions that I observed in the national dailies the other
day; AERO CONTRACTORS TAKE LAST FLIGHT.
INNOSONS MOTORS SHUTS DOWN PRODUCTION OVER DOLLAR
SCARCITY TO IMPORT LAW MATERIALS.
As the significance of these captions sank in gradually , a terrible
nightmare became more appealing ! If you have had a terrible
nightmare in the past, then you must remember the awesome
relief that you have when you open your eyes to realize that Wow !
it was just a dream! That relief evaded me for this was no dream
but a stark reality.
I find it hard to believe that this sort of appalling economic collapse
is being witnesses in Nigeria of 2016. When we were the biggest
and fastest growing economy in Africa just a year ago. As if the
heart break was not enough, first nation airline followed suit and
closed the next day. This was just in aviation sector alone. More
heart rending it is to realize that with each closure comes a
corresponding loss of thousands of jobs in a country where over
fifty percent of her work force is already unemployed. The entire
sectors of the economy appears to be shutting down with rapid
alacrity. This is just a tip of the ice berg of companies that have
closed this year alone.
Recently, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) stated that
272 companies have shut down in the past one year.
Let me enlighten you on the significance of this fact ;
it means that the private sector is dead. QED.
It means that over a million jobs has been lost in just one year.
It means that social vices as we are already witnessing will
multiply.
It equally means that our collective future is on a great peril if there
is any.
Nigeria is in its worst economic state for 29 years —dating back to
1987 when the nation was held to ransom by harsh and reckless
government policies of 1984-85.” “The economic recession is
devastating lives and livelihoods across the country, and quickly
translating into rising unemployment among Nigerian youths,
hunger and powerlessness.
As Mr. Shehu sani rightly opined, “If you keep reforming and
reforming and the people are suffering and dying, you may reach
the Promised Land alone because by that time everyone has died.
Of what use would that be?
”
But what exactly are they reforming ?? Strangulating over 272
indigenous companies with harsh, inarticulate and clueless
economic policies ; is that their definition of reform ? For whom are
they reforming for ?
According to my able senator, Ben Bruce; “Nobody locks up money
in a vault in a recession. In fact, the hurried implementation of TSA
may be part of the reason we are in a recession.” I totally agree
with him.
At a time when the APC led administration is trumpeting
diversification of the economy , how does deliberately killing off the
private sector fit in ? Obviously , its either Mr. president does not
know the first thing about diversification or that his economic team
is grossly incompetent. Either way, crass ineptitude of this
magnitude by the executive demands an immediate overhaul of its
economic team which is not forthcoming.
Personally I believe that we are moving backward as a nation. I
am entitled to my opinion.
I do not believe that the APC led administration is competent to
manage a complex economy like Nigeria with its present crop of
ministers , finance for instance. Today, an average Nigerian is not
just hungry but starving. This is a gross violation of basic human
right of Nigerians. Increased poverty and hunger is a threat to the
right to life and health of many socially and economically
vulnerable, including women and children. To me this is the
highest form of corruption.
Twice , the bring back our girls campaigners has been lawlessly
harassed. “Today, the executive has gone into lax mode; judiciary
has become lawless; National Assembly is lacking in credibility;
INEC is troubled; politicians have gone unruly. Government says it
has no money to run the economy. I seriously doubt the ability of
the APC led administration to conduct a free and credible election
as witnessed last year. The rate at which elections are either being
inconclusive or postponed is alarming. According to Mr. Odinkalu,
“There is absolutely no reason why the executive should allow the
number of vacancies we have in INEC to be. By next month, INEC
will have 28 vacancies among RECs (Resident Electoral
Commissioners) and seven commissioners. The Executive is
carrying on as if this is normal. It isn’t.
The very first thing I expected Mr. President to do in his sincere
effort to ride the nation of corruption is to Urgently propose
legislation and constitutional amendment that would end the
practice of budgeting billions of Naira as ‘security votes’ for the
Federal Government and the 36 state governments. How do you
explain to a hungry man on the street of ajegunle that the National
Assembly budgeted and spent a whooping N115 billion in 2016
alone ? The sum of N150 billion each was allocated to the National
Assembly in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 while N115 billion was
allocated in 2015. Are they equally passing spiritual and scientific
laws that will govern the entire universe? These madness must
stop.
Cross River state government for instance budgeted the sum of
N1.4bn for entertainment and hospitality for the governor for the
year 2016. Does he take his annual vacation at Mars or Jupiter ?
There is no common sense in all these outrageous budget
allocation.
No single allocation is made to SMEs, and you wonder why we are
still resource based economy. Where does that leave the youths ?
The supposedly leaders of tomorrow?
To make matters worse, Mr. Bayo onanuga, (MD) news agency of
Nigeria , blurted that the so- called hardship under Buhari is a mere
propaganda. A desperate attempt to downplay the suffering of
millions of Nigerians. Then he rode on a tale of how his revered
daughter boarded a flight from Lagos to London just to realize that
the aircraft was over filled o . So he was expecting it to be empty ?
to really get that bad before he can acknowledge the pestilence in
the land ?
I therefore endorse SERAP recommendations for the government to
at least
;
1. Move swiftly to avoid and mitigate the negative effects of the
economic recession on human dignity and human rights of several
Nigerians living in poverty by urgently providing the socially and
economically vulnerable with social protection programs and
safety-nets to protect them from severe poverty and deprivation.
2. Immediately guarantee minimum levels of economic andsocial
rights essential for survival and human dignity, including the rights
to health, food, housing and education.
3. Fully integrate human rights principles and standards, such as
participation, transparency, accountability and redress into the
initiatives developed to respond to the economic crisis, and identify
longer-term measures that address the structural causes of the
crisis that impinge on the government’s ability to meet its human
rights obligations and responsibilities to its own citizens
This is the little I can do for my dear country as a concerned
citizen. As an ordinary Nigerian, I witness first hand the horror of
economy hardship on the masses. This is not about party politics
or ethnic bigotry. This is common sense. I urge the APC led
administration to arrest the situation quickly before it spirals out of
control.
They should not forget quickly in their euphoria of victory that Aso
rock belongs to we Nigerians. They are just tenants whose rent will
expire in 2019.
You can do your bit by SHARING this post to ensure it gets the
attention it deserves. At least to prove to skeptics like Mr. Bayo
onanuga (MD) NAN, that economic hardship is a reality, SHARE
this post and make it go viral.
This is a National Youth Movement, don’t be left out.
If you have additional insight or constructive criticism , politely
drop it in the comment box.
I also want to use this medium to wish our muslim brothers and
sisters a happy eid-el-kabir. May you witness more of it on earth,
in’sha Allah. Barka de sallah.
Sincerely,
JIM CHUKWUEMEKA.God bless Nigeria.
Comments