Economic Priorities: Reconsidering Our Spendings for Sustainable Development

Have you ever felt the need to get up and walk up to the president of your country to ask him, "What on earth are you doing up there, sir?" Well, I do. And it's probably for the same reason that they are behaving in a manner that one just doesn't get. Well, here's one of those moments for me, and I have two things the government should reconsider, as they may very well positively affect the economy.

As unstable as our economy is and as out of shape as it is, it may seem as though there are not enough resources to go around. The truth, however, is that there is a lot—not necessarily enough to go around—but a large chunk of it is used in inexplicable ways.

There are many aspects that the government devotes too much attention and resources to, causing some other important sectors to lack attention and resources. The following isn't a list that would completely alleviate our deficiencies, but it should go a long way toward making the country a better place. These are things the government should spend less on, and the others they should focus more on.

Excessive Spending On Politicians.

You see, there are many people that look forward to becoming politicians, not because they are philanthropists or truly interested in the wellbeing of the country and her people, but for the most obvious reason that politicians are often handsomely paid for doing their work.

I really don't understand exactly what most of these politicians do. All I hear is that there are sittings here and there, but I really don't get it yet. I do get that there is a need for leadership and order, and so we put people in charge to oversee those things. What I don't get is why they are paid so much like they are the ones giving me the oxygen to survive.

I have heard about how some of them get allowances for a lot of these things, even the most mundane things like buying clothes. I may be wrong, but here's my point: It is understandable that government officials require some level of financial support to perform their duties, but the allocation of funds for trivial expenses seems very unreasonable to me.

Many of these people don't even do nothing that they deserve such an amount of money for. There are real people doing real stuff, but they do not get anything. There are way more important things to pour money into, which would make the country a much better place.

How about the electricity?

There are just too many things that need fixing in this country of mine. There are so many cracks to fill and so many bends to straighten. If I were to begin to list the tons of things that need a lot of attention and money too, we might have ourselves quite a lengthy discussion. Let me just stick with electricity.

At this stage of my life, regular electricity supply is still a myth to me. When I think about how other countries are able to have electricity running in their homes, their schools, their hospitals, and basically everywhere, I wonder just how that could be possible. Can you blame me? I have been used to the darkness since I was born here.

As a matter of fact, there is no electricity where I currently reside with my parents, and it has been that way for at least five years since we moved here. Even more alarming, I had already gone 7 years without mains electricity prior to moving here.

For how long will we continue to live like this? If only the government could pour more money into the facilities we need to generate and supply regular electricity for our people. I do not even mean "consistent" electricity. I mean the availability of electricity a lot more often.

Here is something that the government could lavish their excessive spending politicians on, so we all, like the "big people," can all enjoy the benefit of it. It's not so easy, but it all starts by pointing our hands at these things.

To reiterate, these are not the necessary solution to our problems in Nigeria—which are bountiful—but these, alongside many other critical considerations, will go a long way in putting the country on track and in the right direction.

I am very concerned about the electricity because it is very disappointing to still live like that even in these modern times. Till something better happens, we'll remain steadfast and keep strong.

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