The Problem With Nigeria - Part Two

If CONFUSION is to be defined as, “A situation in which, a people are uncertain about what to do or are unable to clearly understand what they are expected to do; and keep living in denial while many things are happening in a way that is not controlled or orderly,” and you honestly feel that Nigeria is not confused, it will be safe to say that you may be more confused than confusion itself.

Let us start with our confusion in administration, governance and the sharing of Nigeria’s commonwealth. We are so confused that we can’t operate the democracies that we have copied from England and America. We know that salary scales in the Forces, Civil Service and Academia, are fixed according to academic qualifications and years of service. Unfortunately, the agency responsible for fixing salaries has no clue as to how it fixed the salaries and allowances of the national assembly members. There seems to be no relativity between the various arms of government, in terms of salary scales. How can you collect our commonwealth, pay yourselves insane salaries and allowance, and refuse to pay the masses; and still claim not to be confused?

If we are not confused, can anyone tell us if we really need (a) our teachers, (b) our health workers, (c) our road workers, and (d) all the junior office workers? And if we do need them, can their salaries feed, clothe, transport and house them, and pay school fees for their children? And if you still think that we are not confused, can anyone tell us, where in the world, there is half as high a cost of government as ours? And before you ask, “And where do we go from here?” Let me assure you, “Since no condition is permanent, and that the only permanent thing in life is change,” I can assure you that solutions, shall be proffered. When we come back, we shall discuss our ignorant and gullible religiosity.