Azuka Onwuka
It is unjust to tell a poor man to tighten his belt. Do you want him to cut himself into two with his belt?
As the price of crude oil continues to fall, it has become glaring that Nigeria’s economy will face some hard times, given that oil is the mainstay of our economy. Last week, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, announced some measures to cushion the effect of the drop in the price of oil, among which was the introduction of Luxury Goods Tax.
But such measures mean little or nothing to the masses. For a long time, the political class has been carrying on as if holding a political office is synonymous with winning a lottery. There has been no sign that there is an element of service in it.
How can the so-called common man believe that there is any need for him to make some sacrifices when he sees the opulence and flamboyance his political leaders wallow in?
Starting from the President to the local government area councillor, there is a need for leadership by example. The President of Uruguay, Jose Mujica, holds the unofficial title of “the poorest president on earth” because of his modest lifestyle. He rides a 1987 Volkswagen Beetle, lives in a farm owned by his wife, and gives away 90 per cent of his salary to various causes. That kind of president can ask his people to make sacrifices and they will gladly do so.
Nigerians are not asking their leaders to live like Mujica. All we are asking for is a cut in the opulence and flamboyance. For example, no matter the reason, there should not be more than two aircraft in the country’s presidential fleet. We don’t need 11 aircraft there. If President Goodluck Jonathan insists on that, let him apply for a commercial airline licence, so we will know that the number of our commercial airlines has increased by one. Also, he needs to cut down on all expenditures that are not extremely important.
In the same vein, the members of our National Assembly are said to be the highest paid in the world. It is difficult to place a figure on all that accrues to each member in terms of salaries and allowances. Some reports claim that a Senator earns N240 million per annum, while a member of the House of Representatives earns N204 million. What is the justification for that, given that the National Assembly members sit in plenary for three days in a week (Tuesday to Thursday)? The National Assembly goes on recess like no man’s business: one month for Christmas/New Year, one month for Hajj, one month to end the legislative year, one month to visit their constituencies, etc. And even when they are in session, many vacant seats exist during sessions.
Governors of states are another story altogether. Some don’t just use cars; they acquire private jets for flying around. They can create an office called the special assistant/adviser on dancing or laughing!
The state legislators as well as local government chairmen also live like lords. There is no dint of austerity or sacrifice in their lifestyle.
Now ponder on this. Have you ever seen a manager with Guinness Nigeria Plc openly drinking a Star lager beer? Have you ever seen a manager of Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc wearing a branded T-shirt of Coca-Cola?
Such an action will immediately attract a sacking, because it is a slap on the face of the company that pays the employee’s salaries. What the employee is telling the public is that the product of the employer is simply not good enough. The implication is that the employee will never be committed in uplifting the company of employment.
That is the case with a president, governor, minister, legislator or commissioner, or local government area chairman whose child attends a private school or a school outside the country, or who seeks medical care in a private or foreign hospital. That is a clear case of passing a vote of no confidence on the public facilities. If the manager of a brand has no faith in it; if a manager of a brand does not patronise the brand he manages but chooses to patronise a competing brand, the manager cannot convince anyone to patronise his brand.
There should be laws to stop those who hold political offices from patronising private or foreign brands, especially in education, medicare, etc. The argument against this is that it is against people’s human rights and freedom. But that point is weak. Every organisation decides the rules that govern it. For example, is it not against human rights to limit the age of those who can contest for some elective positions in Nigeria? Why should an 18-year-old Nigerian, who is qualified to vote, be prevented from contesting for the office of governor or president? Why is it against the Nigerian law for someone to contest an elective post as an independent candidate? Isn’t that a breach of one’s human rights too? Yet, it is in our Constitution.
Now, let us take it to other organisations. Before a member of the Roman Catholic goes to the seminary to be trained to become a priest, he knows that he is not allowed to marry. He can either decide to continue with his quest to become a priest and forfeit his desire to marry or change his mind before his ordination and remain a lay man that is free to marry. Similarly, in my hometown Nnewi, once the prince is crowned the Igwe of Nnewi, he can no longer run his businesses or practice his profession. He cannot go to his office and sit down to deal with customers or clients. His business is thenceforth run by proxies. The prince knows this and other conditions before ascending the throne. He is free to reject the throne and remain a prince, while his brother or son takes over as the Igwe.
If there is a law preventing political office holders from sending their children to private schools or foreign schools, or seeking medical attention in private or foreign hospitals, or using generators in their offices and residences, or using a certain class of vehicles as official cars, those who are not comfortable with such conditions can choose to reject any political appointments or avoid contesting any election. After all, nobody is holding a gun to their heads that they must participate in governance. Those who feel at home with such conditions would still participate in governance.
The impact of these conditions is that those who are in governance and public administration would commit themselves passionately to making sure that public infrastructure like education, health, electricity and others are in condition better than what the private sector or many foreign countries can provide. That way, our country would move away from the embarrassing Third World status it occupies to the First World. And that means better life for Nigerians and increased global respect.
Governance is service, not luxury. In countries where the nation comes first, people get into governance and even become poorer and stressed up. But in Nigeria, people get into governance and become richer and more robust. That orientation needs to change.
As the price of crude oil continues to fall, it has become glaring that Nigeria’s economy will face some hard times, given that oil is the mainstay of our economy. Last week, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, announced some measures to cushion the effect of the drop in the price of oil, among which was the introduction of Luxury Goods Tax.
But such measures mean little or nothing to the masses. For a long time, the political class has been carrying on as if holding a political office is synonymous with winning a lottery. There has been no sign that there is an element of service in it.
How can the so-called common man believe that there is any need for him to make some sacrifices when he sees the opulence and flamboyance his political leaders wallow in?
Starting from the President to the local government area councillor, there is a need for leadership by example. The President of Uruguay, Jose Mujica, holds the unofficial title of “the poorest president on earth” because of his modest lifestyle. He rides a 1987 Volkswagen Beetle, lives in a farm owned by his wife, and gives away 90 per cent of his salary to various causes. That kind of president can ask his people to make sacrifices and they will gladly do so.
Nigerians are not asking their leaders to live like Mujica. All we are asking for is a cut in the opulence and flamboyance. For example, no matter the reason, there should not be more than two aircraft in the country’s presidential fleet. We don’t need 11 aircraft there. If President Goodluck Jonathan insists on that, let him apply for a commercial airline licence, so we will know that the number of our commercial airlines has increased by one. Also, he needs to cut down on all expenditures that are not extremely important.
In the same vein, the members of our National Assembly are said to be the highest paid in the world. It is difficult to place a figure on all that accrues to each member in terms of salaries and allowances. Some reports claim that a Senator earns N240 million per annum, while a member of the House of Representatives earns N204 million. What is the justification for that, given that the National Assembly members sit in plenary for three days in a week (Tuesday to Thursday)? The National Assembly goes on recess like no man’s business: one month for Christmas/New Year, one month for Hajj, one month to end the legislative year, one month to visit their constituencies, etc. And even when they are in session, many vacant seats exist during sessions.
Governors of states are another story altogether. Some don’t just use cars; they acquire private jets for flying around. They can create an office called the special assistant/adviser on dancing or laughing!
The state legislators as well as local government chairmen also live like lords. There is no dint of austerity or sacrifice in their lifestyle.
Now ponder on this. Have you ever seen a manager with Guinness Nigeria Plc openly drinking a Star lager beer? Have you ever seen a manager of Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc wearing a branded T-shirt of Coca-Cola?
Such an action will immediately attract a sacking, because it is a slap on the face of the company that pays the employee’s salaries. What the employee is telling the public is that the product of the employer is simply not good enough. The implication is that the employee will never be committed in uplifting the company of employment.
That is the case with a president, governor, minister, legislator or commissioner, or local government area chairman whose child attends a private school or a school outside the country, or who seeks medical care in a private or foreign hospital. That is a clear case of passing a vote of no confidence on the public facilities. If the manager of a brand has no faith in it; if a manager of a brand does not patronise the brand he manages but chooses to patronise a competing brand, the manager cannot convince anyone to patronise his brand.
There should be laws to stop those who hold political offices from patronising private or foreign brands, especially in education, medicare, etc. The argument against this is that it is against people’s human rights and freedom. But that point is weak. Every organisation decides the rules that govern it. For example, is it not against human rights to limit the age of those who can contest for some elective positions in Nigeria? Why should an 18-year-old Nigerian, who is qualified to vote, be prevented from contesting for the office of governor or president? Why is it against the Nigerian law for someone to contest an elective post as an independent candidate? Isn’t that a breach of one’s human rights too? Yet, it is in our Constitution.
Now, let us take it to other organisations. Before a member of the Roman Catholic goes to the seminary to be trained to become a priest, he knows that he is not allowed to marry. He can either decide to continue with his quest to become a priest and forfeit his desire to marry or change his mind before his ordination and remain a lay man that is free to marry. Similarly, in my hometown Nnewi, once the prince is crowned the Igwe of Nnewi, he can no longer run his businesses or practice his profession. He cannot go to his office and sit down to deal with customers or clients. His business is thenceforth run by proxies. The prince knows this and other conditions before ascending the throne. He is free to reject the throne and remain a prince, while his brother or son takes over as the Igwe.
If there is a law preventing political office holders from sending their children to private schools or foreign schools, or seeking medical attention in private or foreign hospitals, or using generators in their offices and residences, or using a certain class of vehicles as official cars, those who are not comfortable with such conditions can choose to reject any political appointments or avoid contesting any election. After all, nobody is holding a gun to their heads that they must participate in governance. Those who feel at home with such conditions would still participate in governance.
The impact of these conditions is that those who are in governance and public administration would commit themselves passionately to making sure that public infrastructure like education, health, electricity and others are in condition better than what the private sector or many foreign countries can provide. That way, our country would move away from the embarrassing Third World status it occupies to the First World. And that means better life for Nigerians and increased global respect.
Governance is service, not luxury. In countries where the nation comes first, people get into governance and even become poorer and stressed up. But in Nigeria, people get into governance and become richer and more robust. That orientation needs to change.
The Punch
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