 Thank you for staying with us. You're still watching the breakfast on plus TV Africa a song to take global stories making headlines in our national Dailies and joining me to review the papers is professor Camille Sene Fagge as a from the department of political science by Yerah University Joining us from Canoe. Good morning prof. Thank you for joining us All right Fantastic, let's dive right into the papers and now we're starting with a guardian this morning and The Guardian leads with sticky prizes poor control upset consumers despite stronger Naira Now we've seen that the Naira has gained strength in the past few weeks. I mean at some point the Naira went as high as 1,900 Naira per dollar, but now we're seeing it, you know go down to about 1,200 1,100 and something even to be this is Right and so consumers or if people let me just say consumers because consumers seems like a bogus word now Let's talk about Nigerians common Nigerians are complaining that I mean the Naira went the dollar went very high The Naira was you know depreciating at some point But now that the Naira has gained strength How come we're not seeing it reflecting in prizes of goods and services? now everything that has gone up and it's just like how I like to make that joke that The gravity doesn't happen in Nigeria. So whatever goes up never really comes down really So if prizes go up they don't really come down and that is what we're seeing right now So why is you know the stronger the strength of the Naira? Why isn't it reflecting, you know in the prizes of goods and services? So I want to get your take on this one You see This lack of gravity to use your words in Nigeria. That's why it's inflation is concerned Is mainly attitude dinner, you know, if the Naira depreciates our marketers who are quick and producers are quick to raise their prizes, but once It appreciates they are not willing. They are not ready to bring it down Commence rate to that, but this is what we are seeing You know and the part of the reason for this attitude is because of lack of sanctions Okay, even the consumer Protection agency that is supposed to protect the interest of the people I know in this very article come out and say that Nigerians are on their own. So you see It's a catch 22. Here the attitude of the marketers is Negative and also that of the the government is negative. So now we are left at the mercy of The the marketers. So that is why we are we'll see you this impact of the Naira appreciation So what is consumer control doing about this? I mean, I don't know if this is under the their purview But it shouldn't there be some agency that ensures that, you know, when prizes prizes are regulated I think that's the word prizes are regulated because I mean if you're saying that Then the dollar went as high as 1,900 and that was the reason why all the prizes have been increased Then when the dollar is coming down as well with the Naira, you know gaining some strength It should also reflect you should see that, you know, if this Mark on my table went as high as 5,000 Naira with the Naira, you know gaining strength It should be it should come down to maybe 3,000 Naira, but we're not seeing that So what agency is supposed to make sure because at the end of the day the government should, you know Ensure that even consumers are okay. They're fine. So we can't be buying things so expensive Even when the the dollar is coming down. What do you think? Yeah, I think it should be within the purview of the consumer protection agency But like I said, it is quite unfortunate that they come out and say that Nigerians on their on their own. So which means they have withdrawn From the fact that they are responsible for that and secondly the second reason is that We have a very weird conception of what capitalism is all about We think it is pre-market. Everybody should go and do his or her own business the way he likes it but even in advanced Capitalist countries like America But they have you know a protection of the consumers, you know one cannot gung-up because part of the reason why we are having this problem is The gung-up of our producers and marketers. They will just arbitrarily picks Price and then they will know they are not ready to bring it down So I think it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that these things have not gone out of our hunt and You know, they have to protect the Nigerians even though the I mean they have to protect Nigerians Even though they see that this is part of our pre-market But I think pre-market doesn't mean unless he's a people or anybody to do whatever he or she likes Exactly because I would expect that, you know, something should be done Because you can't be saying that, you know, nara is gaining strength And you know, we're not seeing it. We don't feel it You know, it doesn't just reflect in our day-to-day lives if the nara is gaining strength We should be able to see that now Let's just keep you know on the guardian because this has a lot of stories about the state of the nation So there's another headline here that says over 17 million Nigerians currently food insecure says fem now we're seeing A bit of food insecurity because of the nara, right? At some point that it went really high and people could barely afford, you know, a three square meal I'm not sure anyone any family really has would have a three square meal at the moment But we're seeing that there's food insecurity for well in this case 17 million Nigerians What do you think the government is doing about this? Shouldn't this be something that the government is supposed to, you know Just put their hands in the plow and say we want Nigerians to be able to get the basic amenities. What are those food? Transportation healthcare just the basic thing and now food is what makes you leave. This is what sustains you If we're seeing that 17 million Nigerians are currently food insecure, shouldn't that be alarming? It should be but on a light time to see there this issue of three square meals The politicians have even put square meals per day Of course, they don't You know care much about the nigeria. Which is their own responsibility? You know the leadership The responsibility is to ensure that At least these issues are addressed We we see the question of 17 not having three square meals. We have seen that the report that About 70 percent of Nigerian are having multidimensional poverty. So these are basic things which The leaders and the government should address but on the contrary their focus is not on these issues Now their focus is on uh, you know, what amount of money they are going to generate foreign investment that they are going to attract and You know, they forget that the primary responsibility of the government is that of the welfare of the people Okay, economy whatever it is. It means it's not an end But we are making the economy development as an end and the expense of the human Development. So this is part of the reason why we are seeing all these kind of Issues and the other thing is beside the economic problem is the insecurity in so many places that Are put producing areas You know the issue of these curators are prevented farmers from going. So it is a multidimensional Course and the problem of this problem is purity If they are the depreciating of the nara the lack of government policy on each and so many things and the attitude also of the marketer soon hold and you know tonight and Pixar prizes are the trouble. These are some of the reasons that Accountable, you know, the issue of security and the dangerous aspect of is that our leaders Seem to care less about that I like to say some other time This is a time bomb because once you allow this issue of food insecurity to grow You don't know how Much people will react if they react. You don't know how you can be able to address that Of such I agree with you 100% because I mean we saw in Abuja and even in some other states where people were looting warehouses or food So if you push people to the wall, you just don't know what they would do because at the end of the day We have survival instincts in the sense that we must always find a way to survive and food Like I said is something that sustained you so if 17 million Nigerians are food insecure right now We don't know what's going to happen. You know in the next couple of months We don't know how many more Nigerians would fall into that bracket And so if you push them to the wall, they might just take lawyers into their own hands But we hope that don't happen. We hope that you know the Nigerian government starts to put measures in place To ensure that there's food security for all Nigerians. Okay, so moving over to another story now This one says wrong timing misplaced priority for new electricity tariff I'm sure we've you know had a conversation about this but now some people are calling it a wrong timing misplaced priority Especially with fuel subsidy being gone. How do you take out the electricity subsidy as well? And you know just increase the tariff with over 200 percent So what do you think about this? Do you think it's a wrong timing? Like they said and a misplaced priority from the Nigerian government Yeah, it's true. I 100 percent agree with what they say because you see the people I mean those the leaders failed to see the molecular effect of Now this tariff increase Okay, basically in simple terms by the time you raise the cost at the tariff of electricity Even though they come out and say that it is only some 15 or something percent of Nigerian that are going to be affected But it is going to affect virtually everybody in Nigeria even especially the common man because Industries those who are you know using the electricity if you want to lie They are on cost by about 300 percent What they are going to do is to pass it on to the ordinary person The consumer so we we see the effect and there will be problem of Unemployment because some of the factories and industries pull your cough up with this they have to Close up and those that will be able to survive it They have to raise their costs and so whatever it is It is a wrong policy and beside If you look at even the advanced countries I think one of the papers yesterday Carried and I did an analysis of that even in the U.S. In UK in Japan in The Italy in all other countries government subsidized electricity for its people and for companies Well, here we are we are being told that we have to remove the subsidy and we don't we seem to take this suggestions Look like a sinker without even sitting down to analyze and to assess the effect of This kind of policy. So I think what they say is right And if the care is not taken that we are going to see a lot of problems If I will link it to this and the other one that we say that people are being pushed In house, we have one other story today Humorous a little bit that A goat doesn't bite, but if you push it against the wall, it will bite But it's easy that by the time you have removed subsidy here that is put in security now There's electricity We are over stretching the depressions of Nigeria and it is dangerous because the way we show Answers we don't want such things to happen. Nigeria is for all of us. So the leaders should now Mindful of this kind of policies that are pushing the ordinary person down down down the drain Hmm So staying on electricity Let's move over to daily trust and it says customers decry low supply as discurs Prioritize band a now even with the band a customers last week There were reports that some of the band a customers did not get, you know enough power supply So if you are a band a customer, you should see at least 20 hours, you know power supply And so even as of last week the minister was apologizing And saying he was going to sanction discos that did not provide that Right and now you're even seeing consumers as of this week, you know saying There's low low power supply So if you are asking the Nigerian people for money, shouldn't you be giving them this Energy that you claim to have and they're paying for don't you think so? Yeah, this is to be expected, you know because of the depression prizes of Electricity, but surely, you know these people are there to make business. So they are going to pay more attention to the band a Group where they are about to get about 300 and something percent of what they used to do So I think that is it. And the other thing is because our laws are, you know Very weak, you know, even if this happens, the discos and other old agencies that are in charge of this will not be punished Instead, you know, see the government is more concerned with generated revenue and this thing they will Take their eye away from that and the Nigerians and the Nigerians will suffer a lot So I think this is it is a double job project Now the price as we raise and there is no Power availability, you know, even some people are saying that look It's a long time now you raise the Price and now I mean the costs Let it, let's pass up or let's have a constant power supply then you can raise it But some people write it and say look China, America and other people who have constant A power supply they still subsidize. So I think this is a very very wrong policy and To put it mildly, it is even a dangerous policy To go that direction because of the Negative effect it is going to have on Equally and on the lives of people Well, we hope that the government does something about this because we don't we don't want that negative effect You just talked about so we definitely want a Nigeria that is flourishing for everyone for every citizen really So let's move over to some. I don't know if I'll call this on political matters now The daily trust leads with we uncovered more fraud in humanitarian ministry and that's been said by the EFCC The writer says Probe of pass suspended officials yielded 32.7 billion Naira 445 thousand dollars recovery Now investigating abuse of COVID-19 funds world bank loan and those were you know, some of the abuse that they had Now on the punch it also says humanitarian ministry EFCC recovers fresh 445 thousand dollars And 3 billion Naira now. What do you think about this? humanitarian ministry because I mean we've seen the suspended Minister better edu and we know all that has happened now It's funny how you know when that happened. There was a lot of press, you know about it But all of a sudden it's been swept under the carpet. Nobody's saying anything We don't know what what the investigation has been so far. Is she going to be She's going to have to face the music. We're not just hearing anything about it But we're still seeing that they're recovering some more money is now her predecessor also had You know, some allegations like this where she took a lot of billions as well What do you think about this humanitarian ministry? Do you think it's just you know a way for people to To just siphon money out of the government Yes, it's very unfortunate that The ministry that is supposed to be You know humanitarian to help the people the official are helping themselves there And I think what ought to be done is for the government to investigate differ You don't say to stop at edu because uh, you know when you look at it They are talking about That is something billion if you go back In the name of where you know Humanitarianism and this is what is happening and the other thing I don't want some mantra like that But you see what makes it global Important for us is that this mystery one is supposed to be humanitarian and to Most of the people now the three guys that are involved are only this which means Um, you know, it's it's a set out You know, we have a strong feeling that when you trust a woman with this thing, but this uh, you know Showing a negative thing which is quite unfortunate and the third dimension is that Are also involved So I think these are some of the things that The FCC has to cast this media to wider in order to do that and we shouldn't be Business as usual Okay, if They investigate whoever they find capable I think that we should take appropriate Measures on it as provided by laws Otherwise, this is going to be the usual thing That it is going to be swept under the carpet and nobody hears it and it is going to have Triple effect because others will will definitely Going to continue with This is so the essence is the investigation should be deep Then there should be a startup and then the results should be used because that is the essence of laws One to restore what has been The damage that has been done to to punish Who are capable and three to deter others from doing it. So unless this is done In in that ministry, I think uh, we just better forget this issue of our anti-corruption Because that is a quite an unfortunate place In that ministry, but if you go deeper in other, I'm not saying it is the only one If you go deeper into other places, you'll see a lot of it It's quite unfortunate that you know, like you said, this is the humanitarian ministry and you expect them to You know, just help the lives of people and this is what they do Now better edu was even the youngest minister. She's a woman and as a woman, you know, I was very proud of her saying, you know Women are getting more sits at the table But when you hear reports like this is really Unfortunate and I'm just wondering what the government can can do to ensure that Things like this don't happen because we see it a lot of times people go into politics People work for the government and they just think of how to just get money out So in fact it seems though it is a poverty alleviation scheme for you to go into politics So for you to go into the government because you're just thinking how can I get money for my family my generations unborn But that shouldn't be it. You should be going there thinking, you know for the lives of Nigerians because everyone You know needs this money as well We just hope that the government can do, you know Just investigate ensure that whoever's called people needs to dance to the music face the tune And so that way it would deter others to You know commit all of these fraud crimes that we're seeing Okay, so let's move over to the punch we're staying in the punch right now And the punch says labor ask federal government to unveil new minimum wage wage by may 1st Now labor has come out to ask initially it was about a 1 million Naira But now they've come out to ask for just over 600 000 Naira as a new minimum wage Do you think the government is going to unveil this by May 1st? I mean today is the 15th of April. So we have 15 more days, right? I don't know if they've even reached an agreement on that amount But what do you think the new minimum wage is going to be and do you agree with what labor is asking for? You see in the past place All the minimum wage Expressed in this April. So we are going to apply a problem Legally, we are going to have a problem on that issue The old one has expired and the new one hasn't taken my place. That is one thing Secondly, I think this issue of why announcing the minimum wage by May 1st Is going to be a very difficult thing It is going to be to me. I think it is near impossible Because the federal government might be able to do it by the state and private sector You know, you know, it's supposed to be a joint action. They are dragging that Let's remind ourselves that we still have state that are unable to pay even 30 000 as the minimum wage Now they will say that labor is calling For about 630 also now. I see it's a by gaming Cheap that is what the negotiation is all about you put your own A proposal on the table and the other one will put it on the table so that you now Negotiate a rich and amicable solution, but I think that is Not going to be possible because Actually, if the state cannot be able to pay 30,000 now when you raise it to 630 and 30,000 I think even the federal government cannot be able to Be able to pay that and decide even if As you know, they are going to be We are going to see Impolation, you know And the living standard of Nigeria will definitely deteriorate because Take it and you see I am a worker if I say this new race I think I will get it definitely I will get it But the whole of us from the the local government to state and federal government employees Included even the private sector employees. We don't constitute more than 10 percent of the population So by the time you address this in one of the 90 percent and suddenly look at the attitude of Our people now now the moment we have Any race where you know the prices will be raised by the people Since the time we have to doji a day go and so many others in this has been the practice And I think it is going to be the same thing that is going to happen. So to me I say the issue is that let the government address this issue of our minimum wage You know realistically, but most importantly let the government address the issue of our the economy By the time you now stabilize it for me, you make the NARA appreciate you know, they don't take all these INF solutions You now look in what I think Even if it is a the minimum wage is less than 30, so that keep the condition stabilized the ordinary person they Will be able to afford Minimum things. I think that is better. So Talking of that To me is not the way out because it is just addressing the symptom Not the real problem of Nigerian economic crisis I agree with stabilizing the economy because obviously if even if the minimum wage is less than 20 000 NARA if you have the basic amenities, you're not thinking You know, this is not enough at the end of the day. You have good housing facilities You have you know, good education good healthcare good roads infrastructure if you have all of that in place You know the money that you have it doesn't matter But I mean we're seeing an economy that Everything is so freaking expensive at the moment permit my my words But then the money that we have is quite little Now I know 30 000 NARA cannot do so much In Nigeria right now because if you're thinking of you know paying your children's school fees paying house rent You know paying for transportation and so many other things that you need because at the end of the day you're fending for yourself If you think of that 30 000 NARA is not enough now labor is proposed in 615 now labor and TUC have You know reached a consensus and said 615 000 NARA should be the new wage. Do you think that's realistic coming from 30 000 NARA to 615? That is what I'm saying if it is not realistic because like I said earlier on you see I have to now state I'm not able to pay 30 000 minimum now you make it 300 615 that is about how many times over 200 times You know the other thing so even though there is this issue of Subsidy that is removed and that the state now I get it twice No, twice what they used to get from the federal reservation account. We have to be realistic after all Look at Nigeria 36 state Only about six out of the 36 state can stand on their own The remaining 30 or the main 30 are dependent on the federation. So why do we get all this one? It is better realistically approach this issue to me like I said I want the government to increase my salary. I am a worker, but The reality is one. This is not realistic Secondly, they are raising it is going to Generate a lot of problems social economy problem in terms of inflation and other things and even poverty You know the way we are seeing it is going to increase Okay, uh, put this purity and the general insecurity all are going to increase after all Now we like I said the workers are no more than up to 10 percent. What of the remaining 90 percent? And look at the level of unemployment and by the time you raise it also Meaning especially in the private sectors are going to Retrench people and then we are back to square one. We are going to have a lot of problems So this is a very delicate issue which Both sides have to sit down and address. We have to look at it not We are at a given time, but we look at the wider implication of what is going to happen to Nigeria Not today, but also tomorrow and to the future All right, um, let's move over to the business ng the business ng leads to it West african economies bleed as Nigeria worsens and that's been said by the world bank So obviously we're talking about our economy It's not looking so great at the moment And the world bank is saying that west african economies are bleeding Right as Nigeria worsens now on this same the business ng at the top It says naira to hit below 1,000 naira per dollar Well soon as official exchange rates close at 1,142 naira to the dollar now Is our economy going to get better? And which would now translate to other west african economies as well? What do you think of this one as we wrap it? You see, I don't sound like a proper drop doom, but the way we are taking it Actually, we are not going to see it to be better Because the problem is that I keep on saying this I am absolution There is nowhere in the world where they take this dimension of the IMF and get out of the downturn So we cannot be an exception The basic and the realistic thing is for us to now look and see how do we address this problem By the time we keep on saying tomorrow will come tomorrow Tomorrow will never come if we keep on having this thing And the second thing is why is the plan? What do we plan to do? You can now sit down and say okay, let's close our fingers and hope that tomorrow will be better What is your plan? What are your actions? Are the plans of action that you have and how do you address it? In Nigeria, we don't seem to have such plans We just are grabbing here and there and this is not a good policy strategy We have to wrap it up on this segment I want to say thank you for coming and it's always a pleasure Revealing the papers with you. Thank you so much, Prof Thank you very much for having me All right. Have a good day We're speaking with Professor Kamelu Sanifagi. He's from the Department of Political Science Barriero University He was joining us from Kanu and we've just been taking global stories making headlines in our national dailies We'll go on a short break and when we return we'll be talking about the war between Iran and Israel Please stay with us