The bill by the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives , Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and two other lawmakers seeking to convert any property, private property inclusive, to isolation centers, as a step towards curtailing the conronavirus pandemic has in no small way exposed the mindset of the present crop of political holders in Nigeria.
Of note, is that most private properties are located in densely populated parts of the country and these properties were not constructed for the purpose of accommodating patients during public health crisis.
Indeed, the Powers that Be take advantage of any unfortunate situation to promote self serving and pecuniary interests. This informs the decision of the leadership of the not to carry along several members in the lower chamber, while hurriedly ensuring that the bill passed the first and second reading in a single day.
Not surprisingly, residents of Olorunsogo, Molete, Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria, on the instruction of the Landlords and Tenants Association have converted a private property, №3 Kehinde Aderibigbe street, in the community to a refuse dump and where excreta are disposed. This is in addition to the systematic vandalizing of the private property by youths in the community and night guards on the instruction of the community leaders and the Landlords and Tenants Association. The matchet wielding youths who also double as night guards, as well as the night guards, who at all times, are always high in outlawed substances, conduct themselves in ways not in tandem with the rules and regulations guiding the behavior of private security guards.
Sadly, the law enforcement agents have been overwhelmed by practices no listed in their code of conduct.
The presence of a responsible and responsive Legislature in Nigeria, is now a subject of debate among the citizenry. A Legislature that will make laws to ensure all government offices and public places are fumigated before the resumption of workers and the commencement of business activities, but regrettably this is not the case.
The lawmakers have also never shown any sign of worry over the available data from the Central Bank of Nigeria that indicates that the country spent a whooping $1.31 billion to service external debt obligations between January and November last year.
The country’s political office holders are yet to raise alarm over the conditions attached to the $3.4 billion International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) loan to the country.
The commitment fees, service charge and surcharge on credit makes the loan very unattractive for a struggling economy like Nigeria’s.
The IMF works with the national currency duly guided by the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) while the CBN indicated that One Dollar goes for 360 Naira on its website, the IMF has 389.976 Naira as the exchange rate for a dollar.
In other words, the CBN, seems to be economical with the true value of the Naira. This is dangerous.
Bình luận