Coping with looming post-oil age (l)

Also published in Daily Trust

The recurrent deterioration of the financial crisis that repeatedly hits the already economically struggling state governments in Nigeria, and which further exhausts their rapidly depleting finances hence affects their ability to meet their most basic financial obligations i.e. workers’ monthly salaries, represents the predictable and indeed inevitable consequence of their overreliance on the federal government, and also their failure to build sustainable economies that will sustain their respective states with or without the monthly statutory revenue allocations they receive from the federal government.

It also further highlights some of the serious economic implications of the successive federal governments’ failure to diversify the economy and liberate it from the mercy of crude oil price fluctuations in international markets. Besides, as the prices continue to show no sign of significant improvement anytime soon, Nigeria’s revenue from crude oil sales would continue to decline leaving the country with little or no control over the situation.

At the mercy of vested interests

Also published in Daily Trust

Notwithstanding whether the dramatic improvement of electricity and fuel supply as well as the few encouraging indications of change in some other areas of Nigeria’s economy witnessed during the first few months following President Buhari’s assumption of the presidency were indeed due to his body language, as his enthusiasts insist, or they were simply the outcome of the previous government’s reform policies materializing coincidentally, as former President Jonathan’s political allies contend, President Buhari and former President Jonathan share the blame for the subsequent relapse, which has ever since then persisted  and indeed deteriorated further.

Also, regardless of who between them actually deserved the credit for that short-lived improvement and the equally short-lived relief it had brought, it now doesn’t matter since the improvement couldn’t be sustained, let alone be further improved.

Dealing with an obstructive legislature

Also published in Daily Trust

Though making new appointments will remain part of this administration’s ongoing repositioning of government for some time to come, the recent inauguration of the Federal Executive Council by President Muhammadu definitely constituted the most important part of this process given the fact that the council, which is headed by the President himself, represents the zenith of the executive arm of government.

This development is righty expected to inject badly needed momentum into the machinery of government, which, admittedly, has not been proactive enough to keep pace with the rapidly deteriorating situation in the country. Moreover, notwithstanding the level of success achieved so far or expected to be achieved in the future in President Buhari’s ongoing fight corruption, the real yardstick to measure the success or failure of the fight is the ability or otherwise of the newly inaugurated ministers to live up to expectations and resist temptation and pressure to engage in corruption. This is the least Nigerians expect of them, and they can’t afford to disappoint Nigerians. After all, in addition to their acclaimed moral integrity, they are expected to operate under the strict and specific professional and ethical guidelines given to them by President Buhari during their recent two-day retreat prior to the inauguration.

The end of excuses

Also published in Daily Trust

Despite the impact of the current intensified economic crisis on, particularly, the ordinary Nigerians, which has degenerated to the extent of government’s inability to pay monthly salaries on time, one of the most interesting things that made the current political dispensation particularly interesting and indeed promising, is the fact that it is largely composed of almost all the proven and yet to be proven non-corrupt and progressive individuals who have, over the decades, either earned their reputation from their impressive performances in their respective previous positions, or have simply been able to earn the trust of Nigerians due to their insistent condemnation of corruption and corrupt government officials.

As it steadily takes shape especially following the recent confirmation of the ministerial nominees by the Senate, this political dispensation, as represented by both its legislative and executive arms, includes many popular radicals, anti-corruption activists, human right activists, critics and progressive public affairs commentators who have over the years relentlessly advocated transparency in governance, due process and the rule of law, to the extent that they came to be regarded as the embodiments of what they have respectively advocated.