Dear readers of this column, Happy New Year! I sincerely hope that you all had a pleasant and enjoyable holiday. Regardless of tough choices we all have to make as a people, it is my prayer that the year 2016 be filled with love, peace, laughter, and happiness. I have observed over the years that most people all over the world have New Year’s resolutions. The same applies to me. What about you? What are your New Year’s resolutions? While it is not easy to keep New Year’s resolutions, it is very easy to make them for other people.
The economy of a nation is a continuum. It cannot be stopped and restarted. That is the reason why a nation must not allow its economy to go haywire. It is difficult to control an economy once it has gone out of order. I did not say our economy has gone crazy. However, when an economy has gone haywire, what are the symptoms? There will be volatility in stock markets, credit crunch, unpredictability of foreign exchange rates, increase in youth unemployment, shrinking middle class, declining manufacturing activities, increasing bad loans, etc. All these are fallouts out of an economy that has gone haywire and solely dependent on crude oil whose price is plummeting in the international market.
What is the solution to controlling an economy that has gone haywire? In the absence of a direct solution, I will say that our nation’s economy must be managed efficiently through sound monetary and fiscal policies. This is imperative in 2016.
Whether commercial banks have reduced interest rates only on fixed deposits, or placed a ceiling on the amount Nigerians can withdraw outside the country with the use of ATM cards, Nigerians must survive.
Anyway, PMB has told us in his last presidential media chat that “the restrictions on the foreign exchange could not be lifted as Nigeria’s foreign reserve was at an all-time low”. He went further to say that “there is no money to serve as shocks for foreign exchange but the country is now focusing on encouraging local production of foods and import only what is really needed”. I am surprised that since independence, the Nigerian government is just realizing that we need to provide our own food to feed ourselves.
At any rate, PMB says he is aware that Nigerians are experiencing a number of significant hardships over the past few months, and that living in the State House has not alienated him from our daily sufferings. He is reported to have said that the challenges are temporary and that his government is working to make things better. I keep faith with this promise but the PMB government will be assessed at the appropriate time.
The following, not in order of importance, are some New Year’s resolutions that I would love to hear public figures and all Nigerians make and back up with actions in the year 2016:
(a) Having won the 2015 presidential election with overwhelming majority, I will do my utmost best to promote job creation. I will be committed to governing well by providing leadership and ensuring that security is provided to the citizenry. Corruption will be reduced, and Boko Haram dislodged completely from all local governments in the North East of Nigeria – President M. Buhari.
(b) I will ensure that the re-scheduled election that will take place in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on 9 January, 2016 is conducted in a peaceful atmosphere – INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu.
(c) We solemnly declare that all civil servants will be paid their monthly salaries in 2016 including 2015 outstanding salary arrears. And that we will pay all arrears of pensions to pensioners in our states – All 36 state governors.
(d) That in an era of ‘change’, we members of national and state assemblies will be ‘born again’ politicians as this is the year of repentance and progress. And that our collective interests will not be motivated by personal ambition and greed. We have equally resolved to subordinate personal interests to national interests in our political affairs in 2016. We pledge to be faithful, loyal and honest and to serve Nigeria with all our strength – All states and national assembly members.
(e) The whereabouts of 209 missing Chibok girls will be known and they will be brought back home in 2016 – CDS, General Gab Olonishakin.
(f) That I will keep the inflation low and ensure the naira will not be devalued irrespective of pressures mounted by the IMF and World Bank – Godwin Emefiele, CBN governor.
(g) That the electricity supply, housing and road network across the country will be improved – Babatunde Raji Fashola, minister of power, works and housing.
(h) We will ensure there is no corruption and that all policies of the PMB administration will be implemented with 100 percent success rate in the year 2016 – All ministers in PMB’s cabinet.
(i) As vanguard of the people’s voices, we shall publish true stories while ensuring that ethics of journalism are strictly adhered to in the 2016 – the media.
(j) We will defend the common man and give hope to the masses, while ensuring that all court cases are expeditiously adjudicated – Chief Justice of Nigeria.
(k) We shall command respect in 2016 and ensure that citizens’ lives and property are secured – IGP Solomon Arase.
(l) We will not forget those 700,000 Nigerians killed by BH, and the 2.2 million people that are now internally displaced as well as those affected by flood in the year 2015 – All Nigerians.
(m) PMB has good intentions and we will support him to succeed. We pledge to politically educate ourselves so that we can actively participate in the nation’s governance. We will not be involved in crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism – All Nigerians.
Wishing all my readers best regards and a prosperous new year.
