While awaiting accountability from state governors and legislators on how they applied their share of the savings from oil subsidy removal, some facts can be deduced about why citizens did not feel the positive impacts of the humongous allocations to lower levels of government. Emerging statements from federal government actors indicate what the federal government expected state governments to do with the shared funds. The federal government expected state governments to clear outstanding wages and salaries for workers, as well as retirees’ pensions. For many states, this was not to be.The fuel subsidy removal and harmonisation of the exchange rates, or more appropriately, massive devaluation of the naira, led to the closure of many small and medium-scale industries and commercial businesses and the scaling down of operations of many big firms with concomitant job loss and zero incomes for many Nigerians. With the attendant inflation from the policies, the economy continued in recession, extending from the past administration. Expectedly, poverty in the land increased, and the need to bring succour to the people became imperative.The government considered pumping money into the economy to ease hardship by encouraging consumption. Paying outstanding salaries and pensions was one policy initiated to increase the distribution of money. Definitely, following John Maynard Keynes, making money available would encourage consumption, and the resulting effective demand should lead to growth in production and incomes, with final implications for employment generation. Not all the governors executed the plans. Many did not pay outstanding salaries and pensions on time, and by the time they paid, inflation had eroded their value.The newly approved minimum wage in July 2024 was not even paid. Many states are still swimming in unpaid pensions till now. At least, I am aware of the case of Ogun State, which has up to a six-year backlog of pensions, whereas Oyo State cleared its own outstanding pensions long ago. Even then, pensioners all over Nigeria have been crying out about being shortchanged with the “I beg your pardon” pension they are paid. The monthly pension yours truly receives is less than half of my monthly salary when in service, so I have to keep looking for adjunct jobs to maintain my standard of living or avoid falling into the poverty trap.In a recent interview, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Felix Morka, boasted on air that because of the increase in federal allocations to subnational governments, states no longer owe salaries, and outstanding pensions have been cleared. That is the problem with people in the corridors of power. They hardly know what goes on around with the public because they are stuck in power maintenance. If all governors actually paid salary arrears, the level of poverty would not have reached the current level of 63 per cent.The sudden removal of subsidies and massive devaluation of the naira, combined with structural defects and external factors, led to serious economic hardship exacerbated by rapid inflation. Many of the States refused to pay the new wage of N70,000, while some paid only the balance of N30,000 but refused to pay the new minimum wage. The States that have not paid the current minimum wage of N70,000 at the last count are 20. And if you check their records of economic performance, they have low productivity due to lack of motivation of the workers, low output, and revenue, and a higher level of poverty and income inequality.Related NewsOkpebholo vows five-minute response to Edo security threatsBauchi senator denies bandit link, insists viral videos fakeNDLEA arrests ex-convict posing as herbal tea dealerWhile some states like Lagos, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Enugu, Niger, Delta, Ogun, Kebbi, Ondo, Kogi and Gombe are paying between N71,000 (Gombe) and N85,000 (Lagos), states like Zamfara, Sokoto, Osun, Cross River, Imo, Plateau and Taraba have not deemed it right to pay beyond the old N30,000.00. With the high cost of living since the current economic reforms, it is unthinkable that the living conditions of the latter states would remain at the pre-reform era or even worse. They constitute a large proportion of Nigeria’s poverty segment.Further probes and recently displayed project commissioning activities have exposed some governors as preferring to spend funds on physical infrastructure like road projects, including unnecessary overhead bridges and airport construction, rather than on stomach infrastructure, which includes paying salaries and pensions. The projects were awarded at humongous prices with intended personal returns or personal aggrandisement on each contract. Paying workers outstanding wages and salaries does not provide such returns to the politicians, so there was no incentive to make such payments.Mohandas Gandhi opined that it is “only a novice in political economy who thinks it is the duty of the State or government to make its citizens happy – as government has no such office.” Never mind that some governors established ministries or departments of happiness and appointed commissioners and special advisers for the position; it is just jobs for the boys or mockery of democracy and dividend of democracy!Most businesses that collapsed in the wake of the subsidy reforms have neither reopened nor been replaced. The economy is not expanding, and unemployment remains at a high level. There is jobless growth as the economy is reportedly growing in terms of GDP, not job-wise. To reduce poverty in Nigeria, it is necessary that our politicians rethink their priorities. They must prioritise stomach infrastructure over physical infrastructure. After all, it is the living that will use the roads, airports, stadia, and live in the houses being constructed.After making sure workers get their salaries when due, and pensioners get their pensions and gratuity at the appropriate time, the next level of government expenditure should be on providing basic needs facilities like quality schools, health facilities and potable water. As elections approach, the people are watching. Those who make them go hungry will reap the fruits of their actions. Nigerians are growing wiser. Do not bank on cash-for-votes; the Osun State election has shown that it may not work in the coming elections. The fuel subsidy removal and harmonisation of the exchange rates, or more appropriately, massive devaluation of the naira, led to the closure of many small and medium-scale industries and commercial businesses and the scaling down of operations of many big firms with concomitant job loss and zero incomes for many Nigerians. With the attendant inflation from the policies, the economy continued in recession, extending from the past administration. Expectedly, poverty in the land increased, and the need to bring succour to the people became imperative.The government considered pumping money into the economy to ease hardship by encouraging consumption. Paying outstanding salaries and pensions was one policy initiated to increase the distribution of money. Definitely, following John Maynard Keynes, making money available would encourage consumption, and the resulting effective demand should lead to growth in production and incomes, with final implications for employment generation. Not all the governors executed the plans. Many did not pay outstanding salaries and pensions on time, and by the time they paid, inflation had eroded their value.The newly approved minimum wage in July 2024 was not even paid. Many states are still swimming in unpaid pensions till now. At least, I am aware of the case of Ogun State, which has up to a six-year backlog of pensions, whereas Oyo State cleared its own outstanding pensions long ago. Even then, pensioners all over Nigeria have been crying out about being shortchanged with the “I beg your pardon” pension they are paid. The monthly pension yours truly receives is less than half of my monthly salary when in service, so I have to keep looking for adjunct jobs to maintain my standard of living or avoid falling into the poverty trap.In a recent interview, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Felix Morka, boasted on air that because of the increase in federal allocations to subnational governments, states no longer owe salaries, and outstanding pensions have been cleared. That is the problem with people in the corridors of power. They hardly know what goes on around with the public because they are stuck in power maintenance. If all governors actually paid salary arrears, the level of poverty would not have reached the current level of 63 per cent.The sudden removal of subsidies and massive devaluation of the naira, combined with structural defects and external factors, led to serious economic hardship exacerbated by rapid inflation. Many of the States refused to pay the new wage of N70,000, while some paid only the balance of N30,000 but refused to pay the new minimum wage. The States that have not paid the current minimum wage of N70,000 at the last count are 20. And if you check their records of economic performance, they have low productivity due to lack of motivation of the workers, low output, and revenue, and a higher level of poverty and income inequality.Related NewsOkpebholo vows five-minute response to Edo security threatsBauchi senator denies bandit link, insists viral videos fakeNDLEA arrests ex-convict posing as herbal tea dealerWhile some states like Lagos, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Enugu, Niger, Delta, Ogun, Kebbi, Ondo, Kogi and Gombe are paying between N71,000 (Gombe) and N85,000 (Lagos), states like Zamfara, Sokoto, Osun, Cross River, Imo, Plateau and Taraba have not deemed it right to pay beyond the old N30,000.00. With the high cost of living since the current economic reforms, it is unthinkable that the living conditions of the latter states would remain at the pre-reform era or even worse. They constitute a large proportion of Nigeria’s poverty segment.Further probes and recently displayed project commissioning activities have exposed some governors as preferring to spend funds on physical infrastructure like road projects, including unnecessary overhead bridges and airport construction, rather than on stomach infrastructure, which includes paying salaries and pensions. The projects were awarded at humongous prices with intended personal returns or personal aggrandisement on each contract. Paying workers outstanding wages and salaries does not provide such returns to the politicians, so there was no incentive to make such payments.Mohandas Gandhi opined that it is “only a novice in political economy who thinks it is the duty of the State or government to make its citizens happy – as government has no such office.” Never mind that some governors established ministries or departments of happiness and appointed commissioners and special advisers for the position; it is just jobs for the boys or mockery of democracy and dividend of democracy!Most businesses that collapsed in the wake of the subsidy reforms have neither reopened nor been replaced. The economy is not expanding, and unemployment remains at a high level. There is jobless growth as the economy is reportedly growing in terms of GDP, not job-wise. To reduce poverty in Nigeria, it is necessary that our politicians rethink their priorities. They must prioritise stomach infrastructure over physical infrastructure. After all, it is the living that will use the roads, airports, stadia, and live in the houses being constructed.After making sure workers get their salaries when due, and pensioners get their pensions and gratuity at the appropriate time, the next level of government expenditure should be on providing basic needs facilities like quality schools, health facilities and potable water. As elections approach, the people are watching. Those who make them go hungry will reap the fruits of their actions. Nigerians are growing wiser. Do not bank on cash-for-votes; the Osun State election has shown that it may not work in the coming elections. The government considered pumping money into the economy to ease hardship by encouraging consumption. Paying outstanding salaries and pensions was one policy initiated to increase the distribution of money. Definitely, following John Maynard Keynes, making money available would encourage consumption, and the resulting effective demand should lead to growth in production and incomes, with final implications for employment generation. Not all the governors executed the plans. Many did not pay outstanding salaries and pensions on time, and by the time they paid, inflation had eroded their value.The newly approved minimum wage in July 2024 was not even paid. Many states are still swimming in unpaid pensions till now. At least, I am aware of the case of Ogun State, which has up to a six-year backlog of pensions, whereas Oyo State cleared its own outstanding pensions long ago. Even then, pensioners all over Nigeria have been crying out about being shortchanged with the “I beg your pardon” pension they are paid. The monthly pension yours truly receives is less than half of my monthly salary when in service, so I have to keep looking for adjunct jobs to maintain my standard of living or avoid falling into the poverty trap.In a recent interview, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Felix Morka, boasted on air that because of the increase in federal allocations to subnational governments, states no longer owe salaries, and outstanding pensions have been cleared. That is the problem with people in the corridors of power. They hardly know what goes on around with the public because they are stuck in power maintenance. If all governors actually paid salary arrears, the level of poverty would not have reached the current level of 63 per cent.The sudden removal of subsidies and massive devaluation of the naira, combined with structural defects and external factors, led to serious economic hardship exacerbated by rapid inflation. Many of the States refused to pay the new wage of N70,000, while some paid only the balance of N30,000 but refused to pay the new minimum wage. The States that have not paid the current minimum wage of N70,000 at the last count are 20. And if you check their records of economic performance, they have low productivity due to lack of motivation of the workers, low output, and revenue, and a higher level of poverty and income inequality.Related NewsOkpebholo vows five-minute response to Edo security threatsBauchi senator denies bandit link, insists viral videos fakeNDLEA arrests ex-convict posing as herbal tea dealerWhile some states like Lagos, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Enugu, Niger, Delta, Ogun, Kebbi, Ondo, Kogi and Gombe are paying between N71,000 (Gombe) and N85,000 (Lagos), states like Zamfara, Sokoto, Osun, Cross River, Imo, Plateau and Taraba have not deemed it right to pay beyond the old N30,000.00. With the high cost of living since the current economic reforms, it is unthinkable that the living conditions of the latter states would remain at the pre-reform era or even worse. They constitute a large proportion of Nigeria’s poverty segment.Further probes and recently displayed project commissioning activities have exposed some governors as preferring to spend funds on physical infrastructure like road projects, including unnecessary overhead bridges and airport construction, rather than on stomach infrastructure, which includes paying salaries and pensions. The projects were awarded at humongous prices with intended personal returns or personal aggrandisement on each contract. Paying workers outstanding wages and salaries does not provide such returns to the politicians, so there was no incentive to make such payments.Mohandas Gandhi opined that it is “only a novice in political economy who thinks it is the duty of the State or government to make its citizens happy – as government has no such office.” Never mind that some governors established ministries or departments of happiness and appointed commissioners and special advisers for the position; it is just jobs for the boys or mockery of democracy and dividend of democracy!Most businesses that collapsed in the wake of the subsidy reforms have neither reopened nor been replaced. The economy is not expanding, and unemployment remains at a high level. There is jobless growth as the economy is reportedly growing in terms of GDP, not job-wise. To reduce poverty in Nigeria, it is necessary that our politicians rethink their priorities. They must prioritise stomach infrastructure over physical infrastructure. After all, it is the living that will use the roads, airports, stadia, and live in the houses being constructed.After making sure workers get their salaries when due, and pensioners get their pensions and gratuity at the appropriate time, the next level of government expenditure should be on providing basic needs facilities like quality schools, health facilities and potable water. As elections approach, the people are watching. Those who make them go hungry will reap the fruits of their actions. Nigerians are growing wiser. Do not bank on cash-for-votes; the Osun State election has shown that it may not work in the coming elections. The newly approved minimum wage in July 2024 was not even paid. Many states are still swimming in unpaid pensions till now. At least, I am aware of the case of Ogun State, which has up to a six-year backlog of pensions, whereas Oyo State cleared its own outstanding pensions long ago. Even then, pensioners all over Nigeria have been crying out about being shortchanged with the “I beg your pardon” pension they are paid. The monthly pension yours truly receives is less than half of my monthly salary when in service, so I have to keep looking for adjunct jobs to maintain my standard of living or avoid falling into the poverty trap.In a recent interview, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Felix Morka, boasted on air that because of the increase in federal allocations to subnational governments, states no longer owe salaries, and outstanding pensions have been cleared. That is the problem with people in the corridors of power. They hardly know what goes on around with the public because they are stuck in power maintenance. If all governors actually paid salary arrears, the level of poverty would not have reached the current level of 63 per cent.The sudden removal of subsidies and massive devaluation of the naira, combined with structural defects and external factors, led to serious economic hardship exacerbated by rapid inflation. Many of the States refused to pay the new wage of N70,000, while some paid only the balance of N30,000 but refused to pay the new minimum wage. The States that have not paid the current minimum wage of N70,000 at the last count are 20. And if you check their records of economic performance, they have low productivity due to lack of motivation of the workers, low output, and revenue, and a higher level of poverty and income inequality.Related NewsOkpebholo vows five-minute response to Edo security threatsBauchi senator denies bandit link, insists viral videos fakeNDLEA arrests ex-convict posing as herbal tea dealerWhile some states like Lagos, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Enugu, Niger, Delta, Ogun, Kebbi, Ondo, Kogi and Gombe are paying between N71,000 (Gombe) and N85,000 (Lagos), states like Zamfara, Sokoto, Osun, Cross River, Imo, Plateau and Taraba have not deemed it right to pay beyond the old N30,000.00. With the high cost of living since the current economic reforms, it is unthinkable that the living conditions of the latter states would remain at the pre-reform era or even worse. They constitute a large proportion of Nigeria’s poverty segment.Further probes and recently displayed project commissioning activities have exposed some governors as preferring to spend funds on physical infrastructure like road projects, including unnecessary overhead bridges and airport construction, rather than on stomach infrastructure, which includes paying salaries and pensions. The projects were awarded at humongous prices with intended personal returns or personal aggrandisement on each contract. Paying workers outstanding wages and salaries does not provide such returns to the politicians, so there was no incentive to make such payments.Mohandas Gandhi opined that it is “only a novice in political economy who thinks it is the duty of the State or government to make its citizens happy – as government has no such office.” Never mind that some governors established ministries or departments of happiness and appointed commissioners and special advisers for the position; it is just jobs for the boys or mockery of democracy and dividend of democracy!Most businesses that collapsed in the wake of the subsidy reforms have neither reopened nor been replaced. The economy is not expanding, and unemployment remains at a high level. There is jobless growth as the economy is reportedly growing in terms of GDP, not job-wise. To reduce poverty in Nigeria, it is necessary that our politicians rethink their priorities. They must prioritise stomach infrastructure over physical infrastructure. After all, it is the living that will use the roads, airports, stadia, and live in the houses being constructed.After making sure workers get their salaries when due, and pensioners get their pensions and gratuity at the appropriate time, the next level of government expenditure should be on providing basic needs facilities like quality schools, health facilities and potable water. As elections approach, the people are watching. Those who make them go hungry will reap the fruits of their actions. Nigerians are growing wiser. Do not bank on cash-for-votes; the Osun State election has shown that it may not work in the coming elections. In a recent interview, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Felix Morka, boasted on air that because of the increase in federal allocations to subnational governments, states no longer owe salaries, and outstanding pensions have been cleared. That is the problem with people in the corridors of power. They hardly know what goes on around with the public because they are stuck in power maintenance. If all governors actually paid salary arrears, the level of poverty would not have reached the current level of 63 per cent.The sudden removal of subsidies and massive devaluation of the naira, combined with structural defects and external factors, led to serious economic hardship exacerbated by rapid inflation. Many of the States refused to pay the new wage of N70,000, while some paid only the balance of N30,000 but refused to pay the new minimum wage. The States that have not paid the current minimum wage of N70,000 at the last count are 20. And if you check their records of economic performance, they have low productivity due to lack of motivation of the workers, low output, and revenue, and a higher level of poverty and income inequality.Related NewsOkpebholo vows five-minute response to Edo security threatsBauchi senator denies bandit link, insists viral videos fakeNDLEA arrests ex-convict posing as herbal tea dealerWhile some states like Lagos, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Enugu, Niger, Delta, Ogun, Kebbi, Ondo, Kogi and Gombe are paying between N71,000 (Gombe) and N85,000 (Lagos), states like Zamfara, Sokoto, Osun, Cross River, Imo, Plateau and Taraba have not deemed it right to pay beyond the old N30,000.00. With the high cost of living since the current economic reforms, it is unthinkable that the living conditions of the latter states would remain at the pre-reform era or even worse. They constitute a large proportion of Nigeria’s poverty segment.Further probes and recently displayed project commissioning activities have exposed some governors as preferring to spend funds on physical infrastructure like road projects, including unnecessary overhead bridges and airport construction, rather than on stomach infrastructure, which includes paying salaries and pensions. The projects were awarded at humongous prices with intended personal returns or personal aggrandisement on each contract. Paying workers outstanding wages and salaries does not provide such returns to the politicians, so there was no incentive to make such payments.Mohandas Gandhi opined that it is “only a novice in political economy who thinks it is the duty of the State or government to make its citizens happy – as government has no such office.” Never mind that some governors established ministries or departments of happiness and appointed commissioners and special advisers for the position; it is just jobs for the boys or mockery of democracy and dividend of democracy!Most businesses that collapsed in the wake of the subsidy reforms have neither reopened nor been replaced. The economy is not expanding, and unemployment remains at a high level. There is jobless growth as the economy is reportedly growing in terms of GDP, not job-wise. To reduce poverty in Nigeria, it is necessary that our politicians rethink their priorities. They must prioritise stomach infrastructure over physical infrastructure. After all, it is the living that will use the roads, airports, stadia, and live in the houses being constructed.After making sure workers get their salaries when due, and pensioners get their pensions and gratuity at the appropriate time, the next level of government expenditure should be on providing basic needs facilities like quality schools, health facilities and potable water. As elections approach, the people are watching. Those who make them go hungry will reap the fruits of their actions. Nigerians are growing wiser. Do not bank on cash-for-votes; the Osun State election has shown that it may not work in the coming elections. The sudden removal of subsidies and massive devaluation of the naira, combined with structural defects and external factors, led to serious economic hardship exacerbated by rapid inflation. Many of the States refused to pay the new wage of N70,000, while some paid only the balance of N30,000 but refused to pay the new minimum wage. The States that have not paid the current minimum wage of N70,000 at the last count are 20. And if you check their records of economic performance, they have low productivity due to lack of motivation of the workers, low output, and revenue, and a higher level of poverty and income inequality.Related NewsOkpebholo vows five-minute response to Edo security threatsBauchi senator denies bandit link, insists viral videos fakeNDLEA arrests ex-convict posing as herbal tea dealerWhile some states like Lagos, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Enugu, Niger, Delta, Ogun, Kebbi, Ondo, Kogi and Gombe are paying between N71,000 (Gombe) and N85,000 (Lagos), states like Zamfara, Sokoto, Osun, Cross River, Imo, Plateau and Taraba have not deemed it right to pay beyond the old N30,000.00. With the high cost of living since the current economic reforms, it is unthinkable that the living conditions of the latter states would remain at the pre-reform era or even worse. They constitute a large proportion of Nigeria’s poverty segment.Further probes and recently displayed project commissioning activities have exposed some governors as preferring to spend funds on physical infrastructure like road projects, including unnecessary overhead bridges and airport construction, rather than on stomach infrastructure, which includes paying salaries and pensions. The projects were awarded at humongous prices with intended personal returns or personal aggrandisement on each contract. Paying workers outstanding wages and salaries does not provide such returns to the politicians, so there was no incentive to make such payments.Mohandas Gandhi opined that it is “only a novice in political economy who thinks it is the duty of the State or government to make its citizens happy – as government has no such office.” Never mind that some governors established ministries or departments of happiness and appointed commissioners and special advisers for the position; it is just jobs for the boys or mockery of democracy and dividend of democracy!Most businesses that collapsed in the wake of the subsidy reforms have neither reopened nor been replaced. The economy is not expanding, and unemployment remains at a high level. There is jobless growth as the economy is reportedly growing in terms of GDP, not job-wise. To reduce poverty in Nigeria, it is necessary that our politicians rethink their priorities. They must prioritise stomach infrastructure over physical infrastructure. After all, it is the living that will use the roads, airports, stadia, and live in the houses being constructed.After making sure workers get their salaries when due, and pensioners get their pensions and gratuity at the appropriate time, the next level of government expenditure should be on providing basic needs facilities like quality schools, health facilities and potable water. As elections approach, the people are watching. Those who make them go hungry will reap the fruits of their actions. Nigerians are growing wiser. Do not bank on cash-for-votes; the Osun State election has shown that it may not work in the coming elections. While some states like Lagos, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Enugu, Niger, Delta, Ogun, Kebbi, Ondo, Kogi and Gombe are paying between N71,000 (Gombe) and N85,000 (Lagos), states like Zamfara, Sokoto, Osun, Cross River, Imo, Plateau and Taraba have not deemed it right to pay beyond the old N30,000.00. With the high cost of living since the current economic reforms, it is unthinkable that the living conditions of the latter states would remain at the pre-reform era or even worse. They constitute a large proportion of Nigeria’s poverty segment.Further probes and recently displayed project commissioning activities have exposed some governors as preferring to spend funds on physical infrastructure like road projects, including unnecessary overhead bridges and airport construction, rather than on stomach infrastructure, which includes paying salaries and pensions. The projects were awarded at humongous prices with intended personal returns or personal aggrandisement on each contract. Paying workers outstanding wages and salaries does not provide such returns to the politicians, so there was no incentive to make such payments.Mohandas Gandhi opined that it is “only a novice in political economy who thinks it is the duty of the State or government to make its citizens happy – as government has no such office.” Never mind that some governors established ministries or departments of happiness and appointed commissioners and special advisers for the position; it is just jobs for the boys or mockery of democracy and dividend of democracy!Most businesses that collapsed in the wake of the subsidy reforms have neither reopened nor been replaced. The economy is not expanding, and unemployment remains at a high level. There is jobless growth as the economy is reportedly growing in terms of GDP, not job-wise. To reduce poverty in Nigeria, it is necessary that our politicians rethink their priorities. They must prioritise stomach infrastructure over physical infrastructure. After all, it is the living that will use the roads, airports, stadia, and live in the houses being constructed.After making sure workers get their salaries when due, and pensioners get their pensions and gratuity at the appropriate time, the next level of government expenditure should be on providing basic needs facilities like quality schools, health facilities and potable water. As elections approach, the people are watching. Those who make them go hungry will reap the fruits of their actions. Nigerians are growing wiser. Do not bank on cash-for-votes; the Osun State election has shown that it may not work in the coming elections. Further probes and recently displayed project commissioning activities have exposed some governors as preferring to spend funds on physical infrastructure like road projects, including unnecessary overhead bridges and airport construction, rather than on stomach infrastructure, which includes paying salaries and pensions. The projects were awarded at humongous prices with intended personal returns or personal aggrandisement on each contract. Paying workers outstanding wages and salaries does not provide such returns to the politicians, so there was no incentive to make such payments.Mohandas Gandhi opined that it is “only a novice in political economy who thinks it is the duty of the State or government to make its citizens happy – as government has no such office.” Never mind that some governors established ministries or departments of happiness and appointed commissioners and special advisers for the position; it is just jobs for the boys or mockery of democracy and dividend of democracy!Most businesses that collapsed in the wake of the subsidy reforms have neither reopened nor been replaced. The economy is not expanding, and unemployment remains at a high level. There is jobless growth as the economy is reportedly growing in terms of GDP, not job-wise. To reduce poverty in Nigeria, it is necessary that our politicians rethink their priorities. They must prioritise stomach infrastructure over physical infrastructure. After all, it is the living that will use the roads, airports, stadia, and live in the houses being constructed.After making sure workers get their salaries when due, and pensioners get their pensions and gratuity at the appropriate time, the next level of government expenditure should be on providing basic needs facilities like quality schools, health facilities and potable water. As elections approach, the people are watching. Those who make them go hungry will reap the fruits of their actions. Nigerians are growing wiser. Do not bank on cash-for-votes; the Osun State election has shown that it may not work in the coming elections. Mohandas Gandhi opined that it is “only a novice in political economy who thinks it is the duty of the State or government to make its citizens happy – as government has no such office.” Never mind that some governors established ministries or departments of happiness and appointed commissioners and special advisers for the position; it is just jobs for the boys or mockery of democracy and dividend of democracy!Most businesses that collapsed in the wake of the subsidy reforms have neither reopened nor been replaced. The economy is not expanding, and unemployment remains at a high level. There is jobless growth as the economy is reportedly growing in terms of GDP, not job-wise. To reduce poverty in Nigeria, it is necessary that our politicians rethink their priorities. They must prioritise stomach infrastructure over physical infrastructure. After all, it is the living that will use the roads, airports, stadia, and live in the houses being constructed.After making sure workers get their salaries when due, and pensioners get their pensions and gratuity at the appropriate time, the next level of government expenditure should be on providing basic needs facilities like quality schools, health facilities and potable water. As elections approach, the people are watching. Those who make them go hungry will reap the fruits of their actions. Nigerians are growing wiser. Do not bank on cash-for-votes; the Osun State election has shown that it may not work in the coming elections. Most businesses that collapsed in the wake of the subsidy reforms have neither reopened nor been replaced. The economy is not expanding, and unemployment remains at a high level. There is jobless growth as the economy is reportedly growing in terms of GDP, not job-wise. To reduce poverty in Nigeria, it is necessary that our politicians rethink their priorities. They must prioritise stomach infrastructure over physical infrastructure. After all, it is the living that will use the roads, airports, stadia, and live in the houses being constructed.After making sure workers get their salaries when due, and pensioners get their pensions and gratuity at the appropriate time, the next level of government expenditure should be on providing basic needs facilities like quality schools, health facilities and potable water. As elections approach, the people are watching. Those who make them go hungry will reap the fruits of their actions. Nigerians are growing wiser. Do not bank on cash-for-votes; the Osun State election has shown that it may not work in the coming elections. After making sure workers get their salaries when due, and pensioners get their pensions and gratuity at the appropriate time, the next level of government expenditure should be on providing basic needs facilities like quality schools, health facilities and potable water. As elections approach, the people are watching. Those who make them go hungry will reap the fruits of their actions. Nigerians are growing wiser. Do not bank on cash-for-votes; the Osun State election has shown that it may not work in the coming elections.