RostrumNews
The renowned Nigerian policy analyst and rights activist, Comrade Fred Nwaozor had frowned over the decision of the Federal Government of Nigeria led by President Bola Tinubu to carry out a conditional cash transfer of 75,000 naira to about 15 million Nigerians.
According to the public commentator and tech expert, who is also a columnist, the proposed programme would only end up wasting the country’s tax payers' money, just as in the case of the Social Investment Programme under the reign of late President Mohammadu Buhari. He therefore opined that Nigeria was about to make another costly mistake.
In his post made public on his LinkedIn page, titled "75,000 cash transfer?", Nwaozor advised the federal government to rather channel the fund into the Nigeria's lingering challenge in the power sector or other related area.
He posited, "The Federal Government of Nigeria has pledged to carry out a conditional 75,000 naira cash transfer to about 15 million Nigerians.
"The estimate of the proposed national exercise will amount to approximately 1.13 trillion naira. Are you thinking what I have thought?
"The aforementioned total figure, if well utilized, can relatively address Nigeria's problem in the power sector.
"If the country can henceforth boast of steady electricity supply, it would go a long way to alleviate unemployment or joblessness, which is the prime reason for the proposed cash transfer.
"With steady power supply, every grown Nigerian would become useful. They will channel their talents into meaningful adventures that would return significant proceeds in the long run.
"This isn’t unlike the Social Investment Programme initiated by the Mohammadu Buhari-led administration, that ended up squandering billions of the Nigeria's tax payers money.
"Rather than indulging in another phase of excesses, government ought to look inwards toward considering a better approach that would help in solving the country's lingering socio-economic quagmire.
"We need progressive measure, not retrogressive one. Think about it."
Nwaozor - a scholar and media personality - is the Convener of Right Thinkers Movement (RITMO), a pro-democracy and good governance initiative.
