In any process there are intangibles and there are tangibles. We can also have the intangible-tangibles as well as tangible-intangibles. Alternately put, and by analogy from the ICT realm, we must have software and hardware for a system to function and perform optimally. Any fanciful software is only robust and relevant if the hardware on which to run it exists and taylor-made.
The first few days of PBAT, from all intent and purposes, have been devoted to what could be classified as the tangible-intangibles, as far as creating governance framework and possibly the economic base, for industrial production and manufacturing are concerned.
For the intangible tangibles, we expect that as we hear of “subsidy removal”, “unification of forex regime” “liberalisation of education”, … one would also have in place an intensive surge on:
livable wages for workers; (note, not minimum wage!); realigning of the outrageous and uneconomical remunerations of members
of the national assembly with that of the civil servants, such that a Law Maker earns just as much as a Permanent Secretary; bring down cost of governance; other steps, including reorientation protocol to inject hygiene/discipline into institutional governance and administration.
For this administration, in the metaphor of hardware,
the tangibles will consist in quickly coupling-up actions to kick-start industrial production and manufacturing. Where to commence here is, posthaste getting our Iron and Steel, Machine Tools, Aluminium manufacturing companies into production, because of their multiplicative effects and ramifications on different aspects of production. This is the “hardware” for the creation of virile economy; ultimately addressing forex challenges, security difficulties, etc.
The direction of navigation of this administration must not be seen as that of defiantly gravitating into burdening the populace with heavy taxes and mopping up monies to fund luxurious and extravagant lives of people in government. This may just boomerang, haven just witnessed and endured the hope-dashed and waisted eight years of PMB.
Babangida’s SAP bore no good fruits for Nigeria.
Adegbola Akinola.
