- Says government policies have made life more difficult
- Enjoins government to cut cost of governance
Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos has expressed strong concerns over Nigeria’s rising levels of multidimensional poverty, while calling on government to cut cost of governance. The prelate lamented that the Nigerian masses have been impoverished to the extent that feeding has become a very serious challenge. Archbishop Martins made this statement at a media conference in commemoration of his 65th birthday celebration organised by the Directorate of Social Communications in collaboration with the Order of the Knights of St. Mulumba Nigeria, Lagos Metropolitan Council in Lagos recently.
He said, “We are all witnesses to the hardship that extreme multi-dimensional poverty has inflicted on the vast majority of the citizens of our country. It is not news anymore that to simply have something, anything at all to eat has become a big problem. The cost of food items has gone so high that it has become impossible for many to get even one decent meal a day. “We know all the problems with lack of decent employment and the fact that the salaries of those who are lucky to have any sort of employment is not able to maintain decent living at the minimum. We know the problems around the cost of such utilities as electricity and fuel. We all are aware of the challenges of security that are facing us with the kidnappings and other crimes that are rampant in our society.”
The foremost cleric disclosed that his birthday celebration serves as another opportunity to highlight the situation of the country and the citizenry expectations of political leaders at the Federal, State and Local government levels, stressing that the people have a right as citizens to demand the good things of life that we expect from government. Archbishop Martins stated that rather than offer Nigerians “Renewed Hope”, as promised, the federal government policies have thrown them into unprecedented hardship.
“Many would agree that the present administration in power at the federal level, in particular, had good plans for the country. The President, made a lot of promises about making the lives of Nigerians to be better with the renewed hope agenda. “I believe it was in this light that the fuel subsidy was removed and all the policies of the Central Bank with regards to the value of the naira vis a vis the dollar and others were made. Most people understand that the subsidy had to be removed even if they disagree about when and how. The economists have varying views about the CBN policies. “However, the reality is that those policies, good as they may be on the long run, have made life more difficult for the average Nigerian. If you ask the common man in the street today, how well he is faring, none is likely to give a positive response.
Observing that the subsidy removal and the floating of the naira as well as other policies will have a long-term positive effect on the economy, he enjoined government to wake up to the reality that Nigerians have become impatient and they need to see measures that will make life a little easier for them. Archbishop Martins described the multiplication of taxes and other Tinubu’s economic policies as insensitive and lack compassion as he remarked that the fiscal policies will further milk the already pauperised masses of the country. In his words, “The multiplication of taxes and levies on all kinds of things leaves the impression that government is not sensitive to the sufferings that the majority of Nigerians are going through. We know that government has its own issues with finances, but it should be more creative in dealing with them rather than pass the problems to the citizens who have already been impoverished, because their expenses by far exceeds their income.”
The cleric further noted that multiplicity of taxes has become a clog in the wheel of progress for businesses as micro, small and medium-scale businesses are struggling to survive amid economic conditions and unfriendly operating environment. He called on government and the Trade Union leaders to work towards overcoming the impasse that has stalled the review of the minimum wage in the country. “Union leaders must be realistic in their demands while government must show goodwill by offering wages that would give people decent living.
However, Union leaders must go beyond asking for minimum wage for workers to pressurising government to provide social amenities such as housing and transportation as well as good health care facilities that will benefit everyone and not just government workers.” Most Rev. (Dr.) Martins urged government to curb governance expenditure as he expressed displeasure at the unconscionable salaries of the executives that are unbelievably higher than the remuneration of public officers in eminently wealthier nations.
He contended that government should make sacrifices in same way it expects citizens to make sacrifices to restore the fiscal viability of the country, stressing the sacrifice must be made by government. “Government must show goodwill not only by the amount of money that it offers but also by cutting down on the cost of governance. What government spends in providing for her officials in its various arms must show that they are making sacrifices in the same way as they expect the citizens to make sacrifices for the restoration of the economy.
“The amount being spent on provision of cars, wardrobe allowances and so many other allowances are really obscene. It is unconscionable that our politicians in their different offices get so much more than those of the USA, the UK and many other countries whose economies are by far more buoyant.” Archbishop Martins expressed concern at the rising cost of drugs caused by inflation that has further hampered access to health services in the county with many Nigerians unable to afford medication.
According to the high-ranking prelate, amid the rising cost of drugs, people are now dying from simple diseases like Malaria. He beckoned on government to make such medications available by working with pharmaceutical companies that produce the medicine within the country. He proposed, “If need be, let them be given incentives, even tax reliefs that will make the drugs cheaper and more affordable for the poor.” The Archbishop had a low key celebration of his 65th birthday to underscore the fact that God is in control of even situations that look dire and hopeless.
According to him, “When we celebrate, we express the fact that hope is not lost and we must not lose hope because when we say that God is in control, we are confirming that it is not what we say or do that make things better, but it is the grace of God along with the positive actions that we take that would change things for the better.”