Tough times ahead in post 2015 elections
The 2015 election will certainly come and go but the after effect may linger for a long time. Whether it is PDP or APC that eventually wins the presidential election, the party that will come to power post-election had better get prepared for the handling of the economy. As it stands, the nation is on a financial cliff that can fall off any time except a miracle happens. The one commodity that provides life support for the economy has seen its price at the international market fallen to as low as $58 per barrel.
The abuse and misuse of waivers by government functionaries
Nigerians, who have not been following trends in Nigeria’s social economic affairs, were stunned by the purchase of armoured cars for the Minister of Aviation and Managing Director of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mr. George Uriesi. Those who are aware of the capacity of the public servants to help themselves to the best of life at the expense of the majority are not moved by the current out cry. George Uriesi through the minister had pulled wool in the eyes of Nigerians by a grand design of what he called airport re-modeling. As the project took off and it appeared that some work was being done at the airports, the stage was set for the duo to carry out their grand plan of helping themselves with the best.
Stealing has restrained government from collecting taxes
One of the sessions at the just concluded IMF/World Bank Group Annual Meetings is how developing countries can raise their tax base in order to generate revenue for meaningful development of infrastructure. The panelist examined issues around tax evasion by corporate bodies, especially in extractive industry. They came to the conclusion that many companies in the extractive industry in Africa do not pay adequate tax. Also the tax base is weak and many citizens do not pay their taxes.
What is the Nigerian dream, hope and future
This article was first published last November. As Nigerians prepare for a national dialogue the hopes and wishes of Nigerians is that the conferees come up with a Nigerian dream that give every Nigerian a sense of hope and inspire patriotism.
Who should be at the national dialogue
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has yielded to the desire of many for a national dialogue.
Many who in the past fanned the embers of tribalism, nepotism and disunity in Nigeria have already prepared for a showdown at the national meeting. The meeting should essentially be how to remove the nation’s economy from the hands of politicians.
Nigeria will survive without oil, can we please think?
In the last three months, local governments, states and federal government officials have been at each others’ neck over short falls in revenue allocation from the federation account. The war of words is as a result of panic by state governments that they may not be able to meet their obligations to their workers if the federation account allocation continues to dwindle. The current panic stems from the fact that if the revenue shortfall from the federation allocation committee to states falls below some levels, it will result in many of the states not being able to pay their employees.
