After this column published ‘Ten Million Phones for Farmers- A Joke Carried Too Far’ a friend called in asking to be sure that Agricultural Minister, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina had a plan to loan ten million phones to farmers with tax payers’ money as a best way to boost agricultural production. She couldn’t believe me until I pleaded to be always taken seriously in print. For an update, I want to add that last Saturday Dr Adesina received performance award from ‘Daily Sun’ tabloid. Only in Nigeria!
The message is simple: clownery is acceptable statecraft after all Comedian Grillo is contesting for Prime Minister in Italy. Three weeks ago, a Hausa born clown-minister mounted senate rostrum. His name is Mr. Bala Mohammed, the Minister in-charge of FCT Administration. Mr. Mohammed stunned Nigerians in his 2013 budget proposals that include three objectionable and wasteful projects that have generated interests from policy pundits- N4 billion for the construction of an office complex for Africa First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM), N7.4 billion for city gate and N5 billion for the rehabilitation of prostitutes and the destitute.
‘Wasteful and unfortunate’ are mild words to describe this budget proposal. No argument can justify this looming waste of tax payers’ monies in a country where every sector needs critical attention. This will be another folly of a leadership that once rode on public goodwill. A government that rose to power from popular vote with no formidable political past ought first to be conservative in spending. A mere manifestation of this intention is good ground to commence prosecution of the minister after psychological state has been established. Anti-graft commission should not just wait at airport terminals to capture those fleecing public naira, intention to defraud should amounts to an arrest tip off. A wasteful budget proposal of this nature makes fool of our critical national challenges.
From the statistics released at last quarter of 2012 by the Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr. Temi Kale, we learnt that 20.3 million Nigerian youths are out of labour market not minding insistence of experts that the figure might be higher than speculated. Correct or not, we know that majority of Nigerians live below the poverty line, earning less than a $1 dollar (N160) per day. If these do not convince us, the prevailing criminality in the country lends credence that there are idle nerves crying to be engaged. And with more number graduating annually, more dangers are still ahead. The state of our industries calls for urgent attention to keep them functional and put inflation at reverse gear.
In socially tensed moment like this, it is worrisome that a government maps a staggering N4bn to construct First Ladies mansion, money too big for job creation which should top the priority of a government waging war against terrorists. What need is a house that can be used occasionally for conference when a first lady of African descent visits. Worst still, we know that the office of the First lady is not enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution. For government to directly fund the office that is not recognized by the constitution will be an act of illegality. If the FCT administration is empowered to build public edifices, such energies should be devoted to projects that are legal and proper to its ministry.
Fighting the legality of public money being wasted on unconstitutional office is a challenge to legal luminaries in the country. A time like this reminds Nigerians of the days of Gani who would have been the last person to swallow this type of illegality. Could it be that the Nigeria First lady Dame Patience Jonathan is planning to leave her husband house in Aso Rock to live in solitude like Pope Emeritus, at the mercy of a visiting first lady from any African country?
Either way, a conception of a project like this has once again raised doubts on the leadership abilities of President Jonathan. By choice or wrong-advice, Jonathan has consistently proved critics right that his choice was a mistake made by a nation in dire need of Moses to lead people out of many stand stills.
On the issue of City Gate, we have porous borders through which disgruntled elements have been infiltrating our country. This ought to be the concern of federal government other than building a city gate. One wonders the type of city gate that is going to gulp a staggering sum of N7.4 billion. Why should a city gate be the priority of a government in a country where there citizens hardly afford a house. Moreover, we have been told by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim that a city gate for Abuja is one of the components of the Centenary City project which is packaged to be private-sector driven. The question remains: where does the N7.4 billion city gate being proposed fall into?
Most annoyingly, there is no wisdom behind provision of N5 billion for the rehabilitation of prostitutes and the destitute in the FCT. We know for sure that prostitutes especially those found in Abuja do not fall within the class of low income earners. Their business thrives well because they ply their trade where the haves dominate. Again, many of them are on the politicians’ salary scale as sex slaves and some are reaping in the kickbacks of alimony of sexually irresponsible politicians running away from political blackmail.
When one expects FCT administration to put forward plans and policies to evict prostitutes from Abuja to avoid the wrath of dreaded Boko Haram, a Muslim is proposing to rehabilitate prostitutes. Prostitutes in Abuja by any shred of imagination do not need it. Abuja prostitutes are enlightened members of the society who took to prostitution not out of helplessness but by choice. Prostitutes are unlikely candidates for the skill acquisition programme which the FCT administration has designed for them.
Yes, I am indeed awe for a government that places prostitutes first while those seeking for legitimate professions are left to languish. Like Biblical parable, prostitutes are making economic heaven before rest of us.
