Salary Increase Or Stronger Naira: My Appeal to the President

Mr. President before I delve in to lay my concerns, it is indeed important to lay a proper foundation. As an aspiring lawyer and an opinion leader in my own capacity, I am not unaware of the challenges and intricacies of leadership. The stress, strain and challenges are sometimes daunting and discouraging.

However, Mr. President, even your enemies and those from the opposition party can not doubt your capacity to lead and your unique style of leadership. Your ability to lead and manage successful politicians, industry men and academicians leave us in awe and surprise. Your ability to understand and provide lasting solutions to national issues ought to be given a careful consideration and serve as an exercise for students at various levels. Your unique style of leadership is indeed worthy of emulation and study. The Asiwaju school of thought!

Dear President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it has been a year since Nigerians qued in mass to support you and the renewed hope agenda. They voted for you and support your candidacy. Nigerians, from every nook and cranny of the country shun the nay sayers and triumph to support you and the APC to make sure you make it the Villa. It has  now become history and form a special part of the Asiwaju school of thought!

Mr. President sir, Before you declare your intention to run for presidency early 2022, Nigerians were lost in search of a trusted and reliable leader; a qualified politician who is capable of steering them to the promise land. The APC seems to be falling after 8 years sheer disappointing tenure, the PDP was not an option to be considered looking at their 16 years tenure.

The resurgence and emergence of renewed hope agenda and emilokan slogan gave Nigerians a sigh of relief and indeed a hope that the table will turn around. That is, it’s time to reap what they sow and enjoy the fruit of their labour and hard work.

Mr. President, I wish I can write this letter and deliver it directly to your mail or doorstep. Sadly, it’s not possible. I still wish I could be featured on a national television to address and beg you for one thing, yes just one thing Mr. President.

If given the opportunity to meet you the president in a one-on-one conversation, I won’t talk much, I promise to make the conversation short, brief and succinct.  Who will give me this golden opportunity?

Anyway, the popular Hausa adage; “guntun gatarin ka ya fi sari ka bani” meaning your short axe is better than cut and give me” is what kept resounding in my skull. I will use the little I have to achieve what I don’t have. I will send this letter out hoping that one day it’ll reach you Mr. President. On a one on one meeting with Me President, I will tell him to put aside anything that has to do with salary increase for the working class and concentrate on bringing back to life the already dead Naira. A stronger Naira is the only option.

Okay, back to the subject matter, Nigeria is indeed a blessed country with abundant natural resources (Mineral and Human). Yet, our economy keeps dilapidating day in day out. It always seems our yesterday is better than today; last month is better than the current month and we wish to be taken back to the previous administrations.

Why is this happening? What is the problem with Nigeria?

I was tempted to share a post on my Facebook timeline dated back to March, 2015 (9 years ago) in which the writer was lamenting how the prices of commodities skyrocketed during the fasting period. The only price that caught my attention was the price of spaghetti which rise from 60 – 70 naira. Man! how much are you buying spaghetti now? They’ll say dollar has rise.

Mr. President back then in 2014,  the exchange rate of dollar to naira is 60-70 per dollar the minimum wage then was 18,000 naira which is enough for an average Nigerian to buy a bag of rice and other commodities to sustain himself throughout the month. Fast forward to 2024, 10 years later, the Naira hit an all time record of 1900 to dollar and the minimum wage has graciously increased from 18,000 to 30,000. The 30k will not be enough for the average Nigerian to buy half bag of rice not to talk of other daily life struggles.

Mr. President I strongly believe a salary increase will only increase the amount of money in circulation thereby making inflation occupy the front seat of our economic discourse. I.e More money more problems.

Mr. President sir, a good road Network connecting rural to urban areas spiced up with an increased export will benefit the country more than an increased salary for less than five percent of the country’s population.

Dear President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I equally believe the renowned economists in your midst understand the intricacies of our economy and where it’s heading to. With your continuous support, dedication and unwavering commitment to the progress of our nation, Nigerians will one day smile and say Alhamdulillah!

Sani Bello Hamza is a Law Student at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria he write from Zaria and can be reached through 09013506168 sanibellohamza@gmail.com