Policies Making And Common Man -By Ikpang Sunday

The situation of the issue of societal interest, I will say is at stake when it comes to policies making and the common man in Nigeria. The government of this country in as much as is trying to alleviate and appropriate the beneficial magnitude of the populace share of the national cake or resources; should have it at the back of its mind that the common man feels the heat of every single policy being execute. As a concern citizen of this country and a proud Nigerian youth, I will tell you that the situation of all the policies being made concerning any issue in this country, is misappropriate, disarray and lack coordination.

Most times we all know that people at the grass root suffered despicable and undisputable, inhuman suffering that cannot be fathomed when wrong policies are made. Let’s look at the concurrent events which have and still dissolving, the enthusiasm, the charismas of every individual and also slowing down so many businesses and human activities; that’s necessary to human existence.

I am writing from the grassroots and I will say it the way, it is from the bottom, because, I belong to this category, a lot of people at the grassroots are really passing through rigorous experiences as regard to the policies made with the notion of trying to comb down hardship and unbearable situations of the citizens of this country by regulating the flow of money.

I had reard through many articles posted on the internet from various websites, belonging to difference news agencies and information agency (press and media) and trace the jargons being express by our leaders or better still politicians. Before the election of march 11th a lot of rumors of threats, malicious set up, hate speeches, kidnapping and demanding for ransom, killing or assassinations, sabotaging in order to jeopardize the election permeated the internet, news papers and magazine like whirl fire. And these were traceable to the fact that some politician and party agents want to do everything possible to deliver for their party. And we all behave as if it is a normal thing; after all we are use to these menaces.

We forget that these disgusting things are already demolishing and obstructing the status quo and structure of our beloved country. Some weeks ago after the election of March 11th 2023, some so call honourable politicians who are governors of three northern states on the platform of All Progressive Congress, APC; Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Yaya Bello of Kogi State and Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State, which later were joined by Ondo, Kano, Ekiti and River State governors; they came up to sue the federal government to the supreme court as regarding the redesigning of currency and circulation of both old and new notes and the hardship it had brought on the masses.

These states governors were bold enough to go to court against the central bank of Nigeria, CBN and against the federal government FG (which was bravely, I comment that) on the issue of old and new naira notes problems. And apologies were tender inconsequentially by the federal government to the barricade of lack of money circulations; this is happening as a result of waylaying some conspirators who were planning to sabotage or rigging the elections. And that the president of this country was cleverly deceived to succumb to this inhuman suggestions and maltreatment.

Putting every citizens of this country, into an untold hardship; even though he had apology on the state of the nation. If they should be such decision which I believe was however beneficial to the nation; proper modality should have been put in place so as to reduce the advent events of this selfish-looking-ambitious decisions carried out by some individuals with some myopic interest; which cannot be quantified with the interest of the citizens and values of this country.

I want to say that what we are experiencing in this country is too shameful, undeserving, outrageous and very callous. Our leaders seem to allow a lot of unscrupulous ideas and decision to parade confidently to the detriment of the common man. I want to also bring to the notice of his Excellency and the entire world, that, any policy made in this country had a lot of effects on the masses more than the policy makers. Most especially the negative traumatizing policies. What is a policy? A policy is a course or principle of action adopted or proposed by an organization or individual. It is a deliberate system of guideline to guide decisions and achieve rational outcome. I underline rational intentionally, because, I want us to know that policies when making it or should be made, should have a rational outcome. And synonyms to rational are; wise, judicious, common sense, well advised, well grounded and sound etc.

So, any policy or policies made that is not sound, without commonsense, not well grounded, not well advised or lack wise back ground should not be introduce, because, the advent events of such policies is catastrophically intrigue and the common man suffered the consequence severely. This money policy is causing havoc untold hardship everywhere here in Ogoja where I lived it is awful, and, posterity will be told the scorching experience this have done on Nigerians; even if we are trying to safeguard our economic and security incapacitations.

It had come to a point that Nigerian now buy their own currency in order to make ends meet. Thirty percent is charge on any money transactions made from the point on sales service popularly called P.O.S. and the queue in bank is a lifelong experience where it is either you are told by the bank to make a maximum withdrawal of five thousand naira and a minimum withdrawal of two thousand. How can these amounts of money, be helpful to a family with five or eight children where almost all their dependence is more than this. Or enough for an individual needs.

How can you explain situation whereby you walks to a trader in the market and request for his or her account number to do electronic money transfer and the trader or motorist will tell you he or she does not have an account number or complain of some unfinished transaction due to some network hitch. And another thing we should know is that fraudulent, cheating and stealing can not be over emphasize in this kind of cashless practice; if proper modality are not put in place.

Every citizen of a country is entitled to right to life, sustenance and liberty. Due to austerity measure a lot of people in this country took laws into their hands, and makes life difficult for others, petty traders now skyrockets the price of things they sells to the pains of their fellow Nigerian.

To conclude this article, I will want the federal government, and, all arms of government to look into the following suggestions I came out with that can address the challenges we have at hand;

1. Currency circulation: due to the numerous challenges we face in issue of money circulations; I suggest there should be a reliable monitoring and evaluation team that, should carry a thorough evaluation and a task force activity, to ensure compliance. The problem of old and new naira notes acceptances by the masses; should be taken into considerations. Because it is a hustle and bustle in some areas of this country, where people reject old notes and some even reject the new notes because of it redesigning impotency. This I think should be disabused.

2. Extortion: just like I had written earlier on extortion of almost point of sales agents knows as POS should be put to check, because, of over charge fee for the services render to customers, which is very very unsatisfactory; a situation whereby you are ask, to pay thirty percent for each deposit or withdrawal is unacceptable, take for instance if you are making a withdrawal of a hundred thousand naira, you will pay thirty thousand for charges, it is extortion and dehumanization.
Some of these agents gives excuses base on the fact, that, they had been on a long queue all day to get this monies from banks which they are agents to and some will boldly tell you, they bought the money from other sources which they pay some percentage before, the monies was given to them. I tell you what had happened in this country in the past weeks, is a memorial events that will take duration of time to be erase from the minds of Nigerian.

3. The Reputation of this country should always be put in forefront, when we are dealing with national interest. The state of the nation is unbearable, and to be sincere, it is throwing a heavy blow on the structure of both businesses and human life all over.
The melee of some unscrupulous elements jeopardizing the interest of this country is unwelcome. We all know the time we are is a turbulent one every countries, is having its share of this turbulent time, and, I belief before any of the turbulent occurrences, some countries had design a system, that can handle any turbulent time; so as to curtail it to the bare minimum. I suggest Nigeria government should always come out with immediate intervention, over a policy made, which may have a rebounces on the economics of the nation and the life of the citizen of the state.

4. Electoral Laws is now a thing of merit, which ‘anybody’ elected can change any part of the electoral laws to suit his or her regime. To the detriment of the people he or she is leading and this is bringing a lot of chaos to the general public. Which is the greatest? The electoral laws or the laws or constitutions that bind every citizens of a country? If this is not address a time will come in this country, you will be good judgment, admitted and welcome in any institutions of recognition, so long you belong to a political party that is gaining ground and if you do not belong to any of these parties; you will be disappointed. What is electoral law? And what is the constitution of a country? Electoral law or election law is a branch of public law that relates to the democratic processes, election of representatives and office holders and referendums through the regulation of the electoral system of voting and be voted for. And the vast majority of contemporary constitutions of a country describe the basic principles of the state, the structures and processes of government and the fundamental rights of citizens in a higher law that cannot be unilaterally changed by an ordinary legislative act. This simply means that Nigeria constitutions house the electoral laws and the electoral law does not have the authentication to be use as ruling tool.

I am writing the final page of this article on this day of 18th March 2023 as we Nigerian match in mass to the polling units across the nation; to elect our governors and members of State house of Assembly, let us remember that the government of the people by the people and for the people is not a one man show. The rule of law should be allowed to takes it causes. When policies are made let us remember that the common man have his own part to play, so, the aim of the policies will be reach; because when common man does not understand anything in the policy made and does not see where he or she comes in, it becomes detrimental and nonchalant.

If policies are made and there are no plan Bs, in case of failed executions, then the interest and welfare of members and citizens of this country is not put into considerations.