Former presidential spokesman and host of Channels TV’s renowned weekly political and economic programme, Inside Sources, Laolu Akande has again called for the attention of President Bola Tinubu on some national issues that require urgent action specifically on issues concerning the recent fuel crisis, minimum wage and issues in the power sector.
Akande in his weekly nuggets, My Take, urged those close to the president to communicate the plight of Nigerians to President Tinubu, noting that the president’s urgent response will help ameliorate the current suffering the citizens go through.
“And here is my take for the week entitled who we tell the president part two. There are critical signs that invite the attention of the people but don’t get the focus of the government.
“So we ask again today who we tell the president. Who we tell the president that the promise that he made of a living wage for Nigerian workers is still pending. Emphasis is on living wage, and this is especially so now that soaring inflation in our country has made the salaries of workers across the board almost valueless.
“Someone needs to hurriedly whisper into the hairs of the president that the N30,000 narrow minimum wage of 2019 amounted to $88 then. Today, it is only $23. Now we note the latest increase in the salaries of civil servants by the federal government, but a firm untended decision on the minimum wage, which would be a living wage, is still outstanding. Emphasis is on the living wage, ” Akande said.
Calling for a quick solution to current fuel scarcity, Akande said “So who we tell the president that while we are dealing with the issue of petrol scarcity again this week the NNPC has assured us that there is enough stock in the country to last for a month.
“The NMDPRA regulators seem to be dozing off on the wheels. They are refusing (according to news reports) to pay independent petrol marketers the sum of N200 billion, which is the outstanding of the bridging claims since February when the minister directed that they should be paid.
“They are threatening that the oil scarcity will get worse. Who will tell the president that the NMPPRA should promptly do its job and pay the marketers the outstanding bridging claims. We need someone to tell the president urgently so that this fuel scarcity can end quickly.”
Expressing his displeasure on the current state of power supply across the country, Akande said, “Who will tell the president that the current electricity tariff increase that was announced is not delivering on its promise. Yet our minister Bayo Adelabu is threatening all of us that the power sector will collapse without those tariff increases.
“Is it not obvious that what will destroy the power sector is the unaccountable inefficiencies of some of the DISCOs and the lack of real investment and poor technical capacity in the sector. What about some of the sabotage in the TCN? Aren’t those the real danger to the sector?
“Who will tell the president that a former power minister in this country came up with the idea of an energy fund to cure the problem of financial liquidity in the power sector but that minister couldn’t even get the attention of a former president to look at the idea.”
Stating his concerns on what he describes as a communication gap between the presidency and the Nigerian people, Akande queried, “Who would tell the president that the communication from the villa to the nation is still a struggle. Actually, the advisers are working very hard, but their coordination is very poor.”
Concluding his thoughts on the state of the nation, Akande commended President Tinubu on taking some bold initiatives in areas that seek better welfare of the Nigerian people.
“Finally, we must note some of the whole steps that we have seen already from the president. Including the student loan scheme whose board is now chaired by Mr. Jim Ovia, and that’s a good move, including the consumer credit scheme, which has been announced that has a huge potential to catalyze Nigerians’ massive consuming power. We commend all of this.” he said.
Urging the president to place more emphasis on transparency and intensify the fight against corruption, Akande said, “We also commend the president’s drive to stimulate foreign direct investment. But who will also tell the president and keep reminding him that as the leader of our nation, he must insist on transparency.
“He must insist on accountability. He must insist on the strict implementation of modalities that discourage impunity that discourages abuse of power and discourages corruption. He must insist on containing excess on an ongoing basis, and he must continue to desperately push initiatives like he did for student loan initiatives.
“Initiatives that ensure economic growth, that ensure job creation, and ensure social welfare. Those are the things that he must continue to push very hard. This is because a thriving economy not only improves the living standard of the people but also uplifts citizens and the nation while also additionally showcasing Nigeria as a good example in Africa and in the world.”
