The Vicious Circle of Poverty

Infrastructure is a necessity for development but may not be a condition for advancement. Skilled labor, moral and social outlook, political situation and historical narratives all play critical roles in economic development. Indeed, the store of technical knowledge is not at par with economic resources available at a given point in time, while corruption remains a major impediment to development. Various conditions determine the inducement to invest, but in most cases, developing countries rely on a make-believe and cosmetic approach. Unfortunately, this has not been successful. The potential to develop is guided by the ability and willingness to save. Sadly, the capacity to save in developing countries is low due to low real income, which in turn is as a result of low productivity and the visible absence of the enablers of development. Some countries remain in the vicious circle of poverty not because of the lack of natural resources and a conducive environment, but because of corruption, greed and self-centeredness among those-in-authority. However, redundancy and ignorance are challenges for the workforce in focus.

Hike in Electricity Tariffs an attempt to Wipe out Nigerians-Labor Leader

The systematic increase in the pump price of the Premium Motor Spirit(PMS) and the recent increase in electricity tariffs by the electricity distribution companies has been described as premeditated attempts to exterminate Nigerians. This is the opinion of a former chairman of the Oyo state council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), Comrade Andrew Emelieze. ''The systematic increase in the price of petrol and then now the increase in electricity tariffs are premeditated attempts to wipe out Nigerians by continuously ensuring that life is unbearable.'' Note-Olorunsogo, Molete, Molusi, Oshodi, Aluko, Scout Camp and Felele among several other communities in Ibadan, Oyo state Nigeria, where parents and guardians groom their children and wards to become future criminals. Of worry, is the high population of dropouts that has made it very difficult to justify the expenditure on education. Illiteracy, ignorance and idleness coupled with crime and all forms of criminality have now become norms and values. Sadly, the government of the day, at all levels may have proceeded on vacation or are complicit.

Home Ownership : A Factor to Determine the Voting Pattern

Millions of Nigerians have remained without suitable and comfortable homes due to the incompetence of Those-in-Charge to provide affordable houses for the impoverished populace. Indeed, political office holders have over the years facilitated the activities of criminally minded Esate Agents and land grabbers in many states, while the Judiciary may have for long been acting out the scripts of their paymasters. How can a Chief Executive appeal to Nigerians to live in peace with criminals in several communities? A number of state governments have now turned the real estate sector to a revenue generation point, while citizens have continued to tell those who care to lsiten unending tales of woe. Interestignly, an unspecified number of cases and incidences of fraudulent practices by illegal practitioners in the real estate sector have overwhelemed police stations and court rooms across the land. Sadly, a few state governments have successfully made the real sector unattractive to investors, as most of the accomodation available are anything but decent and affordable. The reversal of this horrible status quo may influence the voting patern. Perhaps. Even though owning a house ought to be a right, an enabling environment for this purpose still remains a mirage. Note- The recruitment of unqualified persons and institutional compromise are among other reasons why insecurity and violent crimes persist.

Elect a Leader that shall cater for Poor Nigerians-Prophet Arabambi

Nigerians have been advised to elect a leader that shall cater for the needs and expectations of poor Nigerians in the 2023 general elections. This advice was given on Wednesday by the General Evangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church(CAC)Worldwide, Reformation land, Ile-Atunse, Ibadan, Prophet Timothy Abass Arabambi at an event tagged 2022 Mega International Summit in Ibadan, Nigeria. ''Nigerians should vote in a leader that would carry everyone along. A leader that would lead by example, a leader that would take good care of poor Nigerians. Mu advice to politicians, let them move closer to God for all to be well,'' Prophet Arabambi concluded.

Hunger and Poverty in Nigeria is Massive-Ex-Officio TUC

The unabating hunger and poverty in Nigeria is massive and worrisome as Nigerians continue to raise their voices. This assertion was amde by an Ex-Officio of the Oyo state Council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), who is also a former Chairman of the uion in the state, Comrade Andrew Emelieze. ''There is massive hunger and poverty in Nigeria. This is worrisome. Food security is no longer guaranteed and Nigerians have continued to raise their voices over the unabating hunger and poverty in the land. Nigerians are living in bondage,'' Comrade Emelieze stated.

Save Face

The major discussion among Nigerians in every part of the country revolves around the hunger and poverty in the land. The people continue to complain of the prohibitive cost of foodstuff in the markets, the absence of quality health care delivery, the high rate of unemployment, and the declining productivity of workers as a result of poor conditions of service. Under the present situation, real income is very low due to low productivity. The inducement to invest is also very low as a result of the low purchasing power of the people. What has the government done to ameliorate the situation? This question continues to linger. Foreign investors have continued to observe the trend, which is obviously not favorable and decide against sinking their money in unsafe waters.

This in essence suggests that leadership at all levels of government now contend with ignorance, mediocrity, and the prominent lack of initiative to redeem the situation. In this situation, lies, deceit, threats, and other covert methods become tools of governance to save face.

The Role of NCC in the Provision of Food for Downtrodden Nigerians

Government at all levels and the people are now at home with the fact that there is extreme hunger and poverty in the land.
This is no longer a subject of argument, even though a large percentage of Nigerians insist that the three tiers of government are doing almost nothing to address these threats  to human existence.
Most government agencies and those in the private sector take advantage of the unfortunate  economic situation to ridicule Nigerians.
This was the case on Thursday 24 January, 2019, when the Nigerian Communications Commission(NCC) organized a Consumers Outreach Programme at the Mapo hall, Ibadan, Nigeria, obviously for the downtrodden and economically oppressed  class in society, which is a far cry from the stakeholders forum, soon to be organized by the Commission at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. This forum is strictly by invitation.
The posters containing information about the stakeholders forum pasted  at different locations within the city prepared the grounds for the programme which suggested deceit. It assured those who planned to attend the forum that the telecommunications service providers would give out free Tee  shirts, phones and lots more. This attracted a lot of people, but this was not the case.

However, airtime not exceeding N5,000 was given out to hundreds of people in attendance in a ''funny' way.
Without doubt, a majority of those that were at the venue of the forum, were there to collect food and the NCC made good use of this fact.
After hours of educating a bored  crowd, the organizers in the first instance, distributed biscuits valued  at N20.00 and ribena drinks-N50.00-in strange looking black nylons.
This attracted grumblings, murmurings and arguments, with a  sizable number, making reference to destitutes who are always presented with similar items at the nearby ''Oja' Ba by pass.
One of the Deputy Directors of the NCC opined that the programme was organized to enable consumers know their rights and safeguard  same. Sadly, those in attendance lamented that the acts of the organizers, one way or the other infringed on their Fundamental Human Rights.
Even though less than 10 people won cheap phones during the raffle draw, which the Deputy Director stated was facilitated by a consultant, this did not cut ice  with the crowd.
When the NCC officials discovered that people had started leaving the hall, the Deputy Director  reminded them of the launch packs that would be  forfeited if they left.
Since most of them were hungry and were there to collect food, they decided to wait till the end of the programme.
The Deputy Director now instructed armed policemen to shut all entries to the hall and leave only the one near the high table open. The only entry was manned by armed policemen.
Immediately  the programme came to an end, the impatient crowd  surged towards the entrance manned by armed policemen, where they were handed austere food packs as they stepped out.
Pickpockets  had a field day as  wallets, phones and money were stolen.

The foregoing has been the lot of Nigerians, who attend programmes organized by government agencies, that seek to project the achievements of the present administration in various sectors.

In its leaflets, the NCC stated that one of its core objectives is to ''protect the rights of telecom consumers in Nigeria'', this is just as Nigerians have continued to pray ceaselessly to God  to ease out those responsible for the evil, killings and hardships in the land.