Beyond Quick Fixes: Why We Must Move Past Palliative Governance

Beyond Quick Fixes: Why We Must Move Past Palliative Governance....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

There is a widely known Chinese proverb often referenced by modern economists and leaders: “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” This saying underscores the importance of sustainable solutions over temporary fixes in governance and economic policymaking. The approach a government takes in shaping and implementing its economic policies reveals its true intentions towards its citizens. Effective governance crafts policies that foster self-sufficiency and create opportunities for broad economic empowerment, using tools like subsidies, bailouts, and targeted financial support for productive sectors…….CONTINUE READING 

In 1995, when General Sani Abacha increased the price of petrol, he also established the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) and appointed Major General Muhammadu Buhari as its chairman. The PTF was tasked with using the revenue from the fuel price hike to address the nation’s crumbling infrastructure. While it didn’t exactly “teach Nigerians to fish,” the PTF provided genuine socio-economic relief by funding the reconstruction of roads, hospitals, and schools. Some even regarded the PTF as a parallel government due to its effectiveness, though it later faced criticism for favoritism towards the North and widespread corruption.

Ironically, when Buhari returned as Nigeria’s president in 2015, palliative governance was stripped of its integrity, becoming a platform for corruption. Programs like “School Feeding,” “Trader Money,” and “Conditional Cash Transfers” were launched despite the country grappling with economic recessions, and calls to invest in the economy’s productive sectors were ignored.

President Bola Tinubu has continued down a similar path, introducing palliative measures that benefit only a select few after removing petrol and electricity subsidies and floating the Naira. Promised initiatives like the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) mass transit buses are yet to materialize, and grain releases from national reserves have had minimal impact. Many citizens have yet to see the rice distributed by state governments, which is priced at ₦40,000 per bag.

It must be stressed that palliatives should only serve as temporary measures, much like the emergency support provided during the COVID-19 lockdowns. During that period, giving “fish” was necessary due to the forced halt in economic activities. However, reforms like subsidy removal and currency devaluation demand substantial government reinvestment in the productive sectors to stimulate growth, create jobs, and reduce dependency.

Fifteen months after removing petrol subsidies, sending rice to the people is merely a stopgap that fails to address the root problems. Nigerians do not need handouts; they need long-term solutions that boost productivity and economic independence. The continued sharing of rice, cash, and other temporary palliatives is a manipulation of poverty and hardship, reducing the citizens to beggars. This approach is unacceptable!