Bad Economy Forces Nigerian Middle Class to Migrate
https://onenigeriagroup.blogspot.com/2017/09/bad-economy-forces-nigerian-middle.html
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| © 2017 March Oyinki |
There is the emergence of a very disturbing trend among the Nigeria middle class, whereby so many people, who are among the working class average age educated population. In the last couple of months, I have met several people, who I can categorize averagely, as ‘well-to-do’ individuals, most of whom not only have gainful employment, but also have grown in the hierarchy in their various workplaces to managerial positions.
These people are not the ordinary folks who just graduated and are carrying about the CVs, looking for employment; most of these people have their own properties and have more than one car with families too. They are those you can describe as responsible people, who have apparently, been frustrated by the economic downturn, and are desperately looking to migrate outside the shores of Nigeria.
I recently met a fellow, who is an acquaintance of mine, and he wanted to put up his house for sale, so, he could raise enough money to move his entire family to United States. To my amazement, the reason he gave was that, times are just too hard, and he could no longer cope with the situation in the country anymore, because, his monthly pay checks can no longer pay his bills.
Again, I also met another friend of mine, who is a manager of a branch of one of the top Banks in Lagos just a few days ago; and he was lamenting about how the economy is biting so hard, and that it is telling on him seriously. He said if things remain as it is for much longer, he might just pack his bag and leave the country.
This trend is becoming worrisome because of the caliber of people involved and the high numbers that are looking to migrate to other countries, mostly to the United States and UK; and I am particularly bothered because, I feel the same way sometimes, but unlike these people, migrating has never been an option for me. Truly speaking, the economy is biting so hard and the little salary that comes at the end of the month can barely last more than a week.
It is in the midst of these economic challenges that parents find themselves continually struggling to pay exorbitant fees that private schools charges, as well as house rents, and still set aside money for housekeep. This situation is the same in all households, except those of politicians and top government officials, who live in affluence, with an average National Assembly member earning close of N40 million as salary monthly, in addition, they take home fat allowances and expensive car gifts.
While doing everything possible to ensure their comfort in the shortest possible time, they roll out a purported ubiquitous long-term plan that they claim will change the lives of the rest of the people of the country in the year 2020 or some ridiculous timeline in the future. They set aside billions of Naira in the budget every year to facilitate the execution of this fictitious plan of theirs, which 57 years down the line, has never succeeded in producing any meaningful result.
Certainly, the politicians are taking good care of themselves, and they ensure that they receive their salary checks and allowances unfailingly every month, while on the other hand, the poor civil servants who stay without salary for many months because the government claim funds are not available. The situation in the country is critical; inadvertently, the politicians are destroying this country unknowingly.
Urgent Recommendations
One Nigeria Group seize this opportunity to call on the government to introduce immediate short-term measures that will provide instant relief for many Nigerian families that are suffering under the economic downturn. These measures, firstly, should address the urgent food shortages in the country, even if the government has to import food. Secondly, both the primary and secondary education sectors require urgent revamping, so that the high cost of education that places parents under immense financial constrain is ameliorated. Thirdly, the primary health sector must undergo urgent rehabilitation, medicines made available as well as qualified doctors to manage the facilities.
Knowing that upgrading both the education and health sectors without commensurate arrangement to ensure that they receive their salaries regularly, the whole effort is bound to fail. These measures must take effect urgently, at least within the next six months to introduce the required relief to the Nigerian people. Afterwards, when the government have successfully implemented these measures, they can now continue with their long-term strategic objectives.
#OneNigeria
These people are not the ordinary folks who just graduated and are carrying about the CVs, looking for employment; most of these people have their own properties and have more than one car with families too. They are those you can describe as responsible people, who have apparently, been frustrated by the economic downturn, and are desperately looking to migrate outside the shores of Nigeria.
I recently met a fellow, who is an acquaintance of mine, and he wanted to put up his house for sale, so, he could raise enough money to move his entire family to United States. To my amazement, the reason he gave was that, times are just too hard, and he could no longer cope with the situation in the country anymore, because, his monthly pay checks can no longer pay his bills.
Again, I also met another friend of mine, who is a manager of a branch of one of the top Banks in Lagos just a few days ago; and he was lamenting about how the economy is biting so hard, and that it is telling on him seriously. He said if things remain as it is for much longer, he might just pack his bag and leave the country.
This trend is becoming worrisome because of the caliber of people involved and the high numbers that are looking to migrate to other countries, mostly to the United States and UK; and I am particularly bothered because, I feel the same way sometimes, but unlike these people, migrating has never been an option for me. Truly speaking, the economy is biting so hard and the little salary that comes at the end of the month can barely last more than a week.
It is in the midst of these economic challenges that parents find themselves continually struggling to pay exorbitant fees that private schools charges, as well as house rents, and still set aside money for housekeep. This situation is the same in all households, except those of politicians and top government officials, who live in affluence, with an average National Assembly member earning close of N40 million as salary monthly, in addition, they take home fat allowances and expensive car gifts.
While doing everything possible to ensure their comfort in the shortest possible time, they roll out a purported ubiquitous long-term plan that they claim will change the lives of the rest of the people of the country in the year 2020 or some ridiculous timeline in the future. They set aside billions of Naira in the budget every year to facilitate the execution of this fictitious plan of theirs, which 57 years down the line, has never succeeded in producing any meaningful result.
Certainly, the politicians are taking good care of themselves, and they ensure that they receive their salary checks and allowances unfailingly every month, while on the other hand, the poor civil servants who stay without salary for many months because the government claim funds are not available. The situation in the country is critical; inadvertently, the politicians are destroying this country unknowingly.
Urgent Recommendations
One Nigeria Group seize this opportunity to call on the government to introduce immediate short-term measures that will provide instant relief for many Nigerian families that are suffering under the economic downturn. These measures, firstly, should address the urgent food shortages in the country, even if the government has to import food. Secondly, both the primary and secondary education sectors require urgent revamping, so that the high cost of education that places parents under immense financial constrain is ameliorated. Thirdly, the primary health sector must undergo urgent rehabilitation, medicines made available as well as qualified doctors to manage the facilities.
Knowing that upgrading both the education and health sectors without commensurate arrangement to ensure that they receive their salaries regularly, the whole effort is bound to fail. These measures must take effect urgently, at least within the next six months to introduce the required relief to the Nigerian people. Afterwards, when the government have successfully implemented these measures, they can now continue with their long-term strategic objectives.
#OneNigeria
