'Nigerian Syndrome'

"One upside to this regime of Upward tax revenues is that it might finally break Nigerians out of default mumu-mode re govt accountability" Tolu Ogunlesi

 

I read the above quote yesterday and it had me in stiches because I completely agree with Mr. Tolu on this issue of increased taxes and how it might push Nigerians to hold government more accountable. I am so glad that oil prices are going to the gutters and we have been forced to work on loop-holes and force the government to think of new ways to generate revenue. 

For those of you not on social media or avid radio listeners you perhaps didn’t get wind of the various interpretations given to the move by the government to implement provisions of the Stamp Duties Act and Federal Government Financial Regulations of 2009. Some radio presenters said you will be charged 50 naira on every 1000 naira received, some others said it is one 50 naira charge for a total amount received over 1000 naira. I wonder what the facts are, the Nigerian conventional media is known for speculating instead of conducting proper research and presenting facts. Whatever the facts are taxes are going up in one way or the other yaaay!

 
So back to why I agree with Mr Tolu, my number one reason is the attitude of many Nigerians to this fight against past corrupt officials. I have been shocked my many responses when I have discussed with people about these ex-politicians or government officials with massive corruption cases hanging over their heads. People say things like: 'The government is focusing too much on corruption', 'why are they only chasing ex-PDP members' 'Let’s start the probe from 1960', 'he only stole 100 million naira' and other ridiculous statements.

 
Obviously people do not understand why 'countries' and 'government structures' were formed in the first place; if they did they will definitely not be talking like that. Better still, if people pay over 40 percent of their income in some form of taxes to the government I will be damned if they feel sympathy towards an alleged thieving politician or government official.

I was told a story of a Swedish politician (read up on the Mona Sahlin"Toblerone affair") who lost an election and destroyed her political career because the media revealed that she had bought some chocolates with her government credit card. Harsh? definitely, but the Swedes pay over 40percent of their incomes in taxes and I will be damned if they ever feel sorry for a anyone connected to corruption let alone put anyone with a shady past in charge of their finances. Obviously all countries get it wrong sometimes but in this case though I am certain that the government increasing taxes will make us hold them to account more and stop making excuses for criminals. Things like vandalisation of properties will also reduce when people understand that it is their tax that is used to build infrastructure and not some free for all crude oil produce (death to oil).  

NIGERIAN SYNDROME: "A play on the Stockholm syndrome, is a psychological condition where Nigerians feel sympathy towards government officials and politicians who have looted all their resources and mortgaged their futures". T

I will not be drawn into interpreting this document abeg! Interpret the document on the CBN website on your own and draw your own conclusions, God Bless Nigeria and No Place Else! You can also have a quick glance at the CBN directive sent to the banks below:   

 

 

 

Bauchi hostages feared dead

Unstructured mind discussion

“Nigeria is a richly endowed country whose people are mired in humiliating and mind boggling poverty. It is a cursed land of horrendous corruption. It is a cesspit of crime. It is a paradise of banditry. It is the den of kidnappers. It is a kingdom of armed robbers. Hunger stalks the land. Millions of its youth wallow in joblessness. It is a hellhole of suicide bombers. Its education system at all levels is in shambles. Twenty million of her children are out of school. The health sector has virtually collapsed and her wealthy elite routinely seek medical succor abroad. Blessed with arable land, it is a major importer of food” (The Nation, 23^rd February, 2013).

Pardon the length of my quote but the above perfectly describes Nigeria.  Has it ever been better for Nigerians? I have no clue. My focus is unraveling the mindset behind corruption in the public service and what we need to take seriously if we are ever going to have ‘even development’. Even development in my opinion means development that flows through the federal, state and local government (villages).

I have tried to understand what would make a public servant have hundreds of millions of naira in her home. Or as to why another public servant working with the police pensions office thinks it is fair to steal billions of naira for his personal use. Alas I think I can explain it, I think I understand why a Nigerian who has probably gone through most of the frustrations an everyday Nigerian would encounter gets to the pinnacle of his/her career as a public servant and rob the country blind.  My theory revolves around the disconnect between the pay structure and the standard of living.

This example perhaps explains it: Mr P a twenty eight year old Nigerian gets employed as a graduate public servant on grade level 8 in Abuja, Nigeria. His salary will at most be seventy thousand naira (about 300 pounds) monthly if he is lucky. Abuja is the federal capital city of Nigeria and along with Lagos rank as the most expensive cities in the country to live in. If Mr A decides however to rent a flat after say a eight months of working as a public servant in the city or even in the outskirts of Abuja city can he? No is the answer, Mr P will need to pay a full years rent up front or maybe two years rent in some cases. This simply means Mr P will need at least one million naira (four thousand pounds cash) saved up somewhere to move out and get a place of his own (the average cost for a house will be at least five hundred thousand a year). Someday when he needs to buy his own place he is perhaps going to be asked to have saved up 30million naira (120,000pounds) from his salary which at most will have risen to 200,000 naira a month (800 pounds) after say 25years of service. Without a stable mortgage system how will Mr P resist a once in a lifetime opportunity at instant wealth, how will he pass a chance to get rich in an instant, HOW? He is bound to steal money (although my Dad doesn’t agree with me) so his kids will never have to go through what he went through. Is he shortsighted, Yes- do I understand? Yes I do.

Back to the story so anyway even if Mr P saves up this one million in two years and then decides to find a flat, I can assure you he will not find one. Abuja seems to have been built without a thought that someday kids will grow into young working class men/women and will need a place of their own. Apartment blocks, flats built not with the intention of providing homes for families but for young adults who have just started off life and need some space from mummy and daddy. In the words of Chris Rock ‘I am not saying it is right but I understand’.

My point is that it is almost logically impossible for Mr P to survive like every other person even in the developed world on just his salary. I mean there is a reason why mortgages are in place in developed countries, there is a reason why there are alternatives to road transport and those little things matter. Those little things matter because if Mr P had a reliable option for securing a mortgage, if he had a better transport system he is bound to be more fulfilled and less likely to loot when in a position of authority.

The whole point of my silly thoughts is that if we had a more responsive government who realizes that the inability of its citizens to live off their pay is the major issue then corruption will never go away. THE STANDARD OF LIVING IS ARTIFICIAL AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE AVERAGE INCOME!! I mean in a country where one man can steal 2 billion naira or football players can be given millions of naira for winning the nations cup I am sure there is enough money to increase the minimum wage. The minimum wage is 18,000 (72pounds) a month for a full-time employee in a country where you have to pay yearly rent, running water is a blessing, erratic electricity supply, poor transportation, poor and expensive health system isn’t this a joke?

GETTING THE BASICS OF EVEN DEVELOPMENT

How else can I explain the fact that a country with an alarming population growth rate cannot beat its chest and say we are one hundred and twenty million or we are one hundred and forty million? Even with something as fundamental to development as conducting ‘a credible census’ Nigerian officials and Nigerians as a whole are glad to play politics with it.

If we do not know how many we are now how do we plan for the future, how do we project what development initiatives to focus on? I think the number one reason why the Nigerian youths are jobless, why a growing population squeezes the life out of our infrastructure, and why we cannot protect our citizens is that policy makers have failed to take our population growth into consideration. Why do we think we cannot provide electricity?

Instead of sinking billions of naira into an unimportant event like the yearlong amalgamation celebrations nonsense that the federal government plans to do I think another census should be conducted (dare I say introduce population control). President Goodluck Jonathan has to realize that wasting money on the above or his planned re-election will be a waste of money and instead help build a platform that the next presidency can work with.

I gave up on Jonathan when he was quoted as saying ‘there is a cabal in government’ and openly shows his reluctance was unable to fight them’ what the hell kind of douche president says that? Tsk!

The solution to our problem starts in 2015 let us all go out and vote not based on sentiments but on the credibility and potential of candidates. VOTE FOR RIBADU and FASHOLA!!!(lol!)!! It is my secret wish that we have credible candidates in 2015 to pick from, lets do away with old cargos or people like Jonathan who lack the political will.

N.B Regardless, I will much rather be a Nigerian than a Congolese. Whew! (sorry Lysette couldnt let that pass)

MORE RAMBLINGS, thoughts need organization.

Much ado about my problems

I wonder at what point the spider sisters decided not to feel bad about the situation they were born into? I wonder when they decided to get up and make a living off their disability?  I wonder!

I look at them (spider sisters) and all my so called 'problems' are put into perspective. I moan about life, complain about being african, I wonder if we are cursed, I knock about asking myself what my country has to offer me, I wonder what I have to offer my country... hmm-

Maybe it is because I look around and see many of my friends still unemployed five years after graduation running around 'hustling'. Then it strikes me - NO No NO I have never heard my government setting out to create deliberate policies with the aim of tackling unemployment. I have come to the conclusion that I have no confidence in my governments ability ot will to turn things around. But is there any hope? Do we need to revolt?  OR can it be that I and my friends are just plain dumb or unemployable?

It cannot be that we are dumb the government is responsible- I realised this after watching the state of the union the other day that the government has to take charge and must feel responsible if things aren't working. A government is meant to be responsible to its people or it defeats the aim of governance. 

I have returned back home to Nigeria after four years to practically the same issues. I have decided to keep a diary of how my days go, I am sure it will be good fun.

I have also decided not to shave until I get my 1st interview- starting off by applying to NGO's because I feel they are the only fair option (Government ministries take as much as 500, 000 naira bribes to get young people into vacant advertised government roles :( ). Darn I wish Daddy was rich- lol!

It is surely going to be one hell of a ride.

Forgive my spelling mistakes, I shall be more careful as the days go by.

SDP June 12 campaign-Nigerian History

Wow! The same issues for years, if this SDP campaign was made now it will still be relevant..

Official Video: "Change" - E.M.E All stars (Banky W, WizKid, Skales

"Its been the same thing since I WAS  A KID"- NO LIE

Perception of education in africa.

"In most parts of Africa, people aren't trained enough to execute essentials jobs, degrees gained by most African are useless or have no purpose in the job markets" African CEO's forum Geneva.

I have come across these statement several times in the last couple of months and I am constantly battling with myself over what position to take. My first reaction is to be defensive, as a product of the African educational system I naturally am offended and scream in my head WHAT DO THESE CEO's and BUSINESS MEN MEAN? Is it possible that out of the millions of boys and girls who graduate yearly from universities most of them are not useful? Then I laugh to myself, the Nigerian movie industry churns out a whole lot of movies yearly and 85% of them, absolute garbage.

Light note aside, research shows the rhetoric often shifting from universities being underfunded and corrupt to the idea that graduates are nurtured to look for jobs rather than creating jobs. I am not sure any of these assertions are valid because another question pops up; does the educational system in any country actually nurture students towards creating jobs?  If I have learnt anything from reading biographies of successful businessmen they seem to point to 'formal education' and the way it models everyone into working for other people. So that thought can be shelved--- invalid in my opinion.

If only they (government and past generations) had planned, if only they realised that Nigerias population will grow at a ridiculous rate, if only they realised that to have electricity and water supply you have to plan, if only they kept records, if only the census figures are done to project and plan for the future, if only they thought of the 'greater good'- I can think of a million 'If only's' but it still does not take away the fact that many graduates remain unemployed. But is there a solution?

 Then I drift back into making a comparative analysis of my experiences with formal education in Nigeria and in the UK and I notice that while emphasis in Nigeria seems to be 100% focused on writing and passing final exams in the UK it seems to be more on presentations and in depth knowledge of core topics.  In the social sciences for instance does a focus on interactions through seminars, individual and group presentation go a longer way in making an European more employable than his Nigerian counterpart? 

Are we too focused on formal education? that might be another issue we need to look at, can we train mechanics, electricians and ensure that an environment is created for them to earn a good living? OR maybe the solution is just to ensure security of life and property and that might encourage foreign investment and companies? Or is that trend of Nigerian kids not getting any formal or informal work experience until they graduate from the university that handicaps them later?

The battle in my head is still raging, but I have been able to conclude that the problem of our graduates is not that they are not employable but that there are no jobs and the environment has not been created to encourage the Westerners and the rising powers to bring industries to Nigeria. Is anyone in the world really that employable after their first degree? What happend to identifying a potential and training a graduate? 

Although there might be a minority of graduates who we are ashamed of, I believe if the government solves the problem and infrastructure (good transport system, electricity and water) everything including job creation and employment will fall into place. But the question remains will the Nigerian government ever get it right?

I am not sure if after writing this I feel any better or less confused about the topic of graduate employability, o well...

The media enigma of Boko Haram

Boko Haram- A confused ideology