Making Scheme For President Buhari As He Addresses The Nation Tonight -By Elvis Ogah

The last two Presidential broadcasts, in my considered opinion, have been utterly poor, dull & drab. The last especially, bears no semblance to anything presidential other than the fact that there are 2 flags and a coat of arm behind the President.

As the nation’s almost 200 million people await a 3rd broadcast amidst the rampaging novel covid-19 pandemic, what’re those ingredients, highlights, & elements we must be on the look out for? There must be a radical departure from the regular “this virus is not a joke” or the normal 2 weeks extension.

This time, it has to be richly worded, policy ridden, hope laced, intensely stimulating and thoroughly inspiring. The apotheosis of the broadcast must be vivid & its apogee evocative. Such that at the end of it, we’ll all be on our feets in thunderous applause for Mr. President.

So what’re the sine qua non issues that MUST be addressed today?

1. Social Safety Net
   Events of the last few weeks have exposed the rot in our much mouthed Social Investment Programme (SIP). Nigeria has an estimated 90 million people living in extreme poverty. The National Social Register contains only 11 million people. What happens to the remaining 79 million extremely poor people? This must be addressed tonight.
2. Informal Sector
   About 80% of Nigeria workers are employed under the informal sector. From street hawkers, taxi drivers, artisans to food vendors and hairdressers. What is the fate of these category of persons? They should sit at home & wait patiently for hunger to kill them & their families? What’re we doing for them? This must be addressed tonight.
3. Corporate Entities
   Private sector firms are laying off staff daily. From Banks to Airlines, to Insurance firms to Consultancy companies. What about entrepreneurs (SMEs)? What safeguards are we putting in place to halt the ongoing sack and no salary payment trend? This must be addressed tonight.
4. Health workers
   Our health system is a mess. Agreed. But its sad how we’ve treated our health workers who’re at the frontline battling this devastating virus. Health Minister shamelessly said he doesn’t know if they’re being given special hazard allowance. What’re we doing to encourage and boost their morale? This must be addressed tonight.
5. Civil Servants
   I understand the 3 tiers of govt shared N780.92b last week. Salary must be priorotised above capital projects at this time. Has govt workers at FG, State, & LGA levels been paid April salaries? This must be addressed tonight.
6. Education Sector
   Schools have been shut down for over a month. Are there plans to commence learning anytime soon? If yes, how? If no, why? Also, its been over 1 month since a presidential order was given for the commencement of school feeding program. Are these pupils being fed now? This must be addressed tonight.
7. Local & Foreign Donor Funds
   ‪EU donated €50m to Nigeria; US donated $21.4m‬
   Rich Nigerians donated over N25b.‬ Please what’s the status of all these monies? ‬How’re we spending them? This must be addressed tonight.

We know that the ability to be analytic, constructive and methodical whilst showing in-depth knowledge, insight and intellectual maturity isn’t President Buhari’s natural forte. He has no elevated strength in that department. We may want to pardon his lapses.

What’s unpardonable however, is the fact that he pays people (SAs, SSAs, TAs, PAs etc.) from our collective patrimony to do this thinking & exploration of ideas for him. Yet, what we get every 2 weeks are depressingly bleak, vacuously anaemic, and sterile rhetorics.

No more mediocre broadcast please. We await in bated breath for 8pm.

God bless Mr. President
God Bless Federal Republic of Nigeria
God Bless & keep us all safe.