By Abdullahi D. Muhammed
These are indeed perilous times, a moment filled with strife and agony exacerbated by the Covid-19 Pandemic, and made worst by failure of leadership, especially in this part of the world.And, we all are victims! We are victims of government’s ill- conceived approach of bringing succor through stimulus package to our doorstep.
Governments, the world over had packaged and distributed all forms of palliatives to its citizens in two different categories- individual level and, business owners.
In the US for instance, direct cash payments of $1200 Coronavirus Relief Package were sent directly to citizens’ accounts, regardless of whether the individual is working or not, retired or not. More so, individuals who are collecting Social Security benefits for retirement, disability or Supplemental Security Income were eligible for the stimulus package.
In the same vein, last week about 6.6million had filed for unemployment benefits, that is about 10% of the entire American workforce. In a swift response, a Marshall plan is put in place to aid small businesses, while bigger corporations enjoyed government support to stabilize the economy as a fallout of Covid-19.
The EU and other European countries had in place the Small Business Act for Europe,which targets small businesses for stimulus, because small and Medium-size enterprise SMEs are the backbone of Europe’s economy. It represent 99% of all businesses in EU.
In fact, in the past five years, they created around 85% of new jobs and provided two-thirds of the total private sector employment in EU. Therefore, the EU places high premium on SMEs and entrepreneurship because it is responsible for job creation and integration.
In contrast, Nigeria through the NIRSAL-CBN had some lofty ideas. It had introduced a N50 billion Naira credit facility to support households and micro, small and medium enterprise MSME that are mostly affected by Covid-19.
Promising as it may seem, beneficiaries would not come from the deserving public, rather, political leanings and patronage shall characterize the disbursement of such forms as it is a norm in Nigeria.
Last Thursday, NIRSAL had commenced the disbursement of the facilities which from the onsets has not been too transparent. For instance, a Pre- registration fee of N10,000 was required before the process takes off. The media busted the news of such illegal collections that made NIRSAL put out a Disclaimer, warming applicants not to pay a dime. What a way to give stimulus package!
In the face of the ravaging coronavirus, and the attendant economic fallout, SMEs should easily without bureaucratic bottleneck accesse those facilities. Anything on the contrary showed we are all victims.
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, we had seen policy summersaults from government on how best to identify, locate and disburse palliative funds to millions on stay-at-home order, or lockdown. To some- the BVN remains the surest way out, others considered the direct access in remote and rural areas. Even a certain minister had proposed a minimum of N100 monthly recharge as eligibility for the stimulus. As it stands, only a fraction across the country could claim to have benefited from the Federal government package.
Even the commencement of Ramadan, where Muslims fast, government had not deemed it appropriate to fastrack the process of getting whatever stimulus package to those vulnerable. But, we all are vulnerable in our respective ways.
In Nigeria, vulnerability is multifaceted. Inadequate supply of electricity is another form of such vulnerability we suffered collectively. In this scorching sun and unbearable heat, the lockdown, the stay-at-home- the fasting and empty bank accounts is enough to demonstrate how vulnerable we had become.
At the beginning of the lockdown last month, Nigeria lawmakers mulled a legislation allowing Nigerians enjoy two months free electricity. Which means we all will enjoy two months of electricity without paying just like our Nigerien neighbours.
What a Freebie! Well, as typical with Nigeria, just before we begin to celebrate- Saleh Mamman, Nigeria’s minister of power says that sounds more like a pipe dream. And true to his words, he stated emphatically last week that Nigerian government cannot afford to give us two months free electricity.
He further claimed government spent N50 billion monthly subsidizing electricity. Giving us two months of free electricity is akin to throwing a N100 billion Naira away. This is Nigeria- where all of us are victims.
Even in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, we are beginning to see a lacklustre commitment by the officials.Take for instance Kano, after 6 of the Covid-19 response committee team members tested positive for the coronavirus, the committee had ceased to perform its functions. The testing lab at AKTH Kano, was shut down as samples from Kano are taken to Abuja for test.A purported video of Covid-19 patients in Kano Isolation center claiming they aren’t afflicted by the virus had gone viral, fuelling fears of how people had been skeptical of the upsurge of the virus and its existence.
Within last week, Kano witnessed large number of deaths. What cannot be ascertained is the causes of such deaths. Corona-related or not, people died. Kano government as usual hadn’t offered much, rather it sought to downplay the figure and seriousness.
Experts had expressed fears of Kano becoming the epicenter of the virus in Africa, God- forbid!Federal government must exhibit some commitment by getting actively involved in the Kano project. What happens in Kano would have a profound effect to a very large extent on Nigeria.
Locking up people at home by no means is an effective way of social distancing, but then, you cannot hole-up or cage people for far too long without any proper means of survival.
Hunger has a way of resetting people’s brain to default. Once pushed to the brink- people tend to revolt. King Louis xvi of France was a harsh ruler that had the people pushed to the brink that led to the French revolution in 1789.
Poor harvest, highhandedness and austerity measure led to the hike in prices of bread, which led to hunger, and hunger paved way for unrest and revolution.In 2010, austerity and unemployment in Tunisia made Mohamed Boazizi set himself ablaze which led to the Arab Spring.
All over America, South Africa, some parts of Africa and Europe, people on lockdown are demanding an ease to the lockdown. We must note that, these nations on lockdown had put in place palliatives and provided stimulus package for its citizens. Yet, they protested.
On the contrary, in Nigeria, people had been on lockdown without an elaborate palliative. I hope they don’t embark on their own “Hunger revolt”. We had fallen victims of government’s complacency. Daily Covid-19 briefing by the PTF without addresing the innate issues is simply grandstanding. By failing to implement or, address critical issues the “Daily Show'” could just pass off as one of the many things wrong with Nigeria.
One would expect the composition of the PTF, both in personality and character should see to the implementation of crucial issues. If government is for the people, then such government should be responsive to the plight of its masses.
Part of government’s responsibility is to listen to popular opinion.
Government must make palliative available to people on lockdown, have a periodic review of the lockdowns; enforce strict supervision on credit facility for small businesses and SMEs
Above all, politicisation of Covid-19 must stop. The masses are watching, keenly with a “hungry eye”. Do not provide them with a ready template, or a launchpad for a hunger revolution. Because, we all are victims.
Abdullahi D Mohammed is with the Department of Political Science and International studies, at the Ahmadu Bello University-Zaria.