Nigeria Pay Salaries and Pensions (On Time and Regularly)

Introduction

The change of guard at the helm of national affairs following 2015 presidential election initially and naturally generated loads of expectations and enthusiasm for positive outcomes probably in the long rather than in the short term. As the dust of expectation settles it is becoming apparent that business as usual in the negation of basic activities of a population is consolidated. In short the regressive state of salary and pension payments has continued. This ugly practice must stop.

Confusion Incorporated

It started with promises without inside experience. Then once inside all economic problems and undiscovered information were blamed on the immediate past administration. The ongoing trend is belated broadcasting of alleged national thievery by elites (associated only with the previous administration) which is no news until a conviction is secured with time in jail to boot. In the background it took 6 months to get the national cabinet in order while experience of abuse of processes continued infinitum. Such a package of actions for an incoming administration is rich in significance.

Money Matters of the Commons

What is evident is that for a very long time probably starting from the inception of post-Nigeria-Biafra War Gowon Syndrome i.e. the issue is not how much money you but how to spend it. Most of the commons employed by the state at the federal, state and local levels constitute the main lifelines to most of the population. They are not your so-called elite and big shots with powerful connection to enter CBN under instruction from above for bags of Ghana-must-go of Naira or any foreign denomination of choice. These are common men and women with families to feed, rents to pay, responsibilities to deliver, services and succour to provide and expectations to meet. There are credits to cover, arrears to drawdown and debts to clear.

Sadly month end no longer has its known meaning. Month end is now an unending long rolling temporal plane generating only pain, anger, frustration and death. Many have died from preventable and aggravated illness due to non-payment and or delayed payment of due salary/pension. Sure the state has turned a crafty killer of her won employees! Why should a village, community, town or city thrive when cash flow is unstable? Why should small business grow when the log book is filled with customer debt? The customers are cousins, friends, kinsmen, in-laws and neighbours.

Grand Indicator

Resolving salary and pension payment should have been the first assignment by the current administration.

The government must stop these malicious and premeditated attacks on unprotected citizens. Public employees of all levels must be paid monthly and on time. While some dream of volume of electricity, GDP, reserve and crude oil price as indicator of national status at a time; the named indicators and more are useless when a state cannot ensure payment of salaries/pension in its territory in peace time. This is even complicated by opening of one’s books to intruders like IMF harking back to the confusion mentioned earlier.

We are waiting for the President to vigorously advance this matter immediately making example of APC states and local government. The problem is that this issue may take few tranches of 6 months or rather be a tropical surprise. Enough of gnashing of teeth by public servants and senior citizens imposed on them by their elected. So much for democracy!