Since he assumed duty as the nations number one citizen on May 29,2023, President Bola’ Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated rare courage and determination in changing the narrative about governance in Nigeria.
Though the effect of his show of courage, boldness and bravery to change the status quo in policy direction may not have had the desired effect on average the citizenry, it has had on those benefiting from the bad policies and lack of depth of previous governments who often shy away from taken bold decisions apparently to be popular in the eyes of those they rule over.
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Tough as the decision to remove petroleum subsidy appears to be especially in his first day in office, he has clearly by that decision spelt out the path to his style of governance and what to expect days ahead while his rule lasted.
Besides, it has shown that as arbitrary as the decision may be, he is ready not to take popular decision for the sake of temporary gains to appeal to citizenry who are now worried about falling standard of living caused by fuel subsidy and exchange rate policy.
Suffice to say,it is apparent that this two policies are remotely responsible for the inflationary trend,skyrocketing prices and attendant cause of hunger in the land.
Also of significance is the decision of labour led by the Nigeria Labour Congress,NLC and Trade Union Congress,TUC, to call workers out to protect what appears to it as federal governments slow responce to put in place far reaching policies to reduce suffering of workers and by extension masses.
One significant thing of note is President Tinubus sudden announcement on October 1 of a wage increase policy which first rate was amended within 24 hours to add N35,000 to federal workers pay.
Strange . Strange because the statement by the federal government did not say whether states are supposed to find a midway to pay their workers between N25-N35,000.
It also signal that Tinubu will apply the principle of Federalism.
The announcement of the increase had suddenly taken the wind out of the sail of the NLCs elaborate plans to commencement it’s nationwide strike on Tuesday October 3.
That the organised labour has decided to meet to discuss and possibly review it’s position on Tuesday strike is significant.
To the NLC and it’s affiliates,Tinubus announcement of the wage increase is a sign that afterall as he claimed,Tinubu is “attuned to the hardships being encountered by the people ” and in another breadth wants the people to endure the hardship,”having been convinced that his long term strategy would pay off.
For Tinubu to be trusted thus, as the people have heard the “appeal for better days ahead from several leaders”in the past, he needs all the Will and raw courage to change the process of governance of his predecessors which has failed the citizenry.
Perhaps this boldness to change the narrative of not “ready to erect our national home on a foundation of mud but one that must be constituted on safe and pleasant ground adding,”reform may be peaceful but this is what greatness is all about” shows somebody prepared to go extra mile.
Announcing the wage increase is a tactic and strategy to meet the NLC midway,deflate their tyres and subtly carry the organised labour force along in his determination to change the economic and governance narrative of the past.
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More shocker await other sectors as Tinubu appears prepared for the task ahead having studied previous regimes for the past twenty four years (1999-2023).
Opponents of his policies are also better advised to prepare for a long distance race as the man has a lot of ace up his sleeves courtesy of his unusual strategy and tactics of containing opposition.
On this wage increase, Labour had better prepared for another day…they’ve been ambushed midway.
Civil Servants and Ministers:
To all intent and purpose, the actions and styles of two of Tinubus ministers in person of Nyesome Wike of the Federal Capital Territory,FCT and Dave Umahi of Works and Housing has shown the signal of what to expect from other ministers even if they are not as loud as the twosome.
While Wike has backed his words with action by revoking certificate of occupancy of the high and powerful who failed to develop their allowed plots,his sacking of 21 Directors is a conclusive signal that all will not be well for apostles of business as usual in the bureaucracy.
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Wike may be described as being brash or eager to impress Tinubu his boss, cognisance must be taken of the fact that such action is needed if sanity must be allowed to reign in public service sector.
It is also a sign that Renewed Hope for a better society is only possible in an environment where laws are made,respected and obeyed by the low,the high and powerful.
For the Directors of various departments and agencies given the boot, Wikes declaration that their subordinates ‘cry’ of sympathy will not resonate with his mandate is a signal to others to sit tight .
But for Dave Umahi,who got locked up by ‘angry’ civil servants and ‘super directors’ in the Works ministry, their attitude is a signal that to change the narrative of corruption and indolence in the civil service is not going to be attainable by arresting late comers .
Such action is rather cosmetic.
But then their audacity in locking- up Umahi who is bristtling with energy to perform and justify his appointment is a signal that the established bureaucracy are more potent than mere locking out for lateness to work.
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The accusation by the ‘aggrieved ‘workers that Umahi is high handed by sidelining Engineers who obviously are entrenched interests explains why nothing works in our bureaucracy.
It is a signal to Umahi and by extension to Tinubu and his ministers that the entrenched interests in our bureaucracy are far more powerful and determined than what is known.
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What is more,the age long saga of budget padding of which serving Ministers in and out of government have falling prey, has become a culture on which doorstep lofty programmes enunciated by successive governments failed.
If President Tinubu must ‘crush’ those who he said perpetrated fuel subsidy and broken foreign exchange policies, then Restructuring of the entrenched bureaucracy in the civil service must precede steps taken to reposition our economy.
It is only through this steps that pains hitherto inflicted on the citizens could be removed and relief brought to the citizenry .
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This must be replicated in all states of the country and 774 local governments where established corrupt bureaucracies has encouraged visionless governors and local government chairmen to fleece the people.
On their part,state governors must reform themselves and the system they inherit if Nigerians must breathe and feel governance
