2014 by the numbers

Our 2014 numbers revealed both deceit and a lack of empathy in the manner in which we conduct our affairs. The compulsory registration of births deaths legislated in 1979 is yet to be implemented, combined with inaccurate Census figures, the simple truth is we have no real idea of our population which after all is […]

Our 2014 numbers revealed both deceit and a lack of empathy in the manner in which we conduct our affairs. The compulsory registration of births deaths legislated in 1979 is yet to be implemented, combined with inaccurate Census figures, the simple truth is we have no real idea of our population which after all is the most important number. Waiving aside the absence of any reliable statistical data, government “rebased” the economy, increasing GDP by 89.33%.
Overnight Nigeria became the 26th largest economy in the world ahead of even South Africa who tower above us in human and infrastructural development. This phenomenal “growth” was hailed despite businesses closing down and unemployment spreading! Our per capita income rose to $2,688, (approximately N41,000 per month) which is more than double the minimum wage that most Nigerians don’t earn. There were other interesting numbers.
The number zero represented the number of high profile citizens jailed for corruption despite the scandals of fuel subsidy, immigration employment, bullet-proof cars and missing oil money. The number 1 represents the number of application forms the self-acclaimed “largest party in Africa” printed for their millions of members to signify interest in the office of President. So much for “internal party democracy!” The number 3 represents the North Eastern states under a state of emergency which has achieved nothing while the carnage continues and the situation deteriorates daily. The number 4 is the number of times General Buhari is contesting the presidency. He will do well to overcome those who will stop at nothing to ensure he doesn’t return to stop the gravy train that is government.
The number 6.5 is our percentage growth rate calculated through rebasing. Cocooned in the Villa and out of touch with reality our president has been misled into believing that somehow under his inefficient and ineffective administration Nigerians are economically better off. The numbers 12 and 15 represent the soldiers and officers respectively sentenced to death by court martial. Abysmally equipped and poorly motivated it’s no surprise our troops are deserting, they certainly didn’t enlist to be massacred. Worse still whereas compassionate governments insist on bringing every dead soldier back home draped in a national flag of honour, our troops are buried wherever they die, and their families suffer. The number 30 is the naira difference between Central Bank and Bureau de Change rates.
Bureaus aren’t required to record details or identify their customers. They are the means by which politicians convert their ill-gotten wealth into foreign exchange without a trace. The number 42 is Nigeria’s FIFA ranking. The putrid politics in sports administration has led to a decline sporting achievements which is the one thing that unites all Nigerians. 74 is the percentage of students failing school leaving examinations. Billions of naira was squandered on a “national conference” where 492 mostly geriatric delegates sought to prepare the future for the children. In saner clines governments prepare the children for the future. What future can we expect with massive failure and 80% unemployment amongst youths? 100 represents the number of years since amalgamation.
The totally unnecessary celebrations were just another hair-brained scheme for government squander mania. The tragic estimation of “OVER 200” represents the unknown number of abducted Chibok girls. Our Government’s failure to act decisively, whether successful or not remains a stain on our national pride.  3000 is the number of polling booths INEC was prevented from establishing while 1,500 ballot boxes were intercepted by police. The INEC Chairman expects that once again his personal integrity will assuage anger over the malfeasance, inefficiency, and criminal conspiracies within his organization. N4 billion is the Presidency’s budget for food and travels in 2015. Leaders of progressive nations are scaling down on luxuries in order to provide amenities for their citizens, but our president is ordering more aircraft and spending over N10 million a day for gallivanting and feasting, despite asking the rest of us to bear “austerity measures”.
N9 billion is the cost of 750,000 clean stoves and 18,000 “wonder bags” government is importing at an item cost which is “not readily available”. This expenditure was not budgeted, not advertised, and is more than enough to set up a factory to construct these things in locally. The plan to give them out free is designed to frustrate all attempts at accountability.  $20 billion is the amount of money the Minister for Finance agreed was “unaccounted for” which up until now has not been “reconciled”. N21 billion is the amount realized at President Jonathan’s fundraising dinner. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are duty bound to cross check how much taxes these donors paid last year and determine the source of their income. N4.3 trillion is the amount that the oil producing stares shared in 15 years under the PDP with nothing to show for it.
Finally there are numbers the public would like to know. For example how much is our President who “doesn’t give a damn” actually worth? How many millionaires have been made by PDP as he claimed? And how many of them made their millions through contract inflation, oil allocations, fuel subsidy scamming, and asset stripping of privatized public owned industries?