Respected scholar and former Dean, Faculty of Social Science, University of Lagos, Prof Lai Olurode has reacted to the recent subsidy removal and the planned palliatives to the most vulnerable,
He said: ‘’Certainly, the Presidency is bothered by the full ramifications of the removal of fuel subsidy. Secondly, it is aware that Nigeria’s poorest of the poor cannot withstand a full blown free for all market forces. Even, in the home of raw capitalism and conservatism where Adam Smith’s invisible hand is expected to display a free reign with no restrain, the milk of human kindness is directed at the poor, the old, vulnerable groups and farmers.
’’ Granted that social interaction by the Federal Government is desirable, Nigerian government has data challenges. This is partly why previous interventions by all preceding governments had failed. Without being able to identify poorest household and without credible data base, whatever money or support in kind that is given out would go down the drains’’.
He added: ‘’Some years back, a World Bank Report said that Nigeria is characterised by putting first thing last. How else can one describe a situation of wanting to dish out palliative or support for the poor and the weak without a rigorous process in place to identify who they are? It is indeed a different issue that the amount is a paltry sum. ..’’
He advised the Presidencyto employ social scientists and professional to assist it to draw up foul proof criteria with which to identify potential beneficiaries.
‘’It is good that the Federal Government had discovered that it is far away from the grassroots aand couldn’t handle the programme effectively. If there were working local councils, the exercise woul d have fallen squarely on them,’’ he said.
The lesson in the dilemma that the federal government faces over this exercise of helping the poor is that unless it is driven by science, expected outcomes won’t be met. Not just on this intervention alone but in all other departments. Nigeria should always put its thinking cap rather than putting cart before the cattle. In whatever we do knowledge should come first and never last.
