By joshua 
25 Years of Democracy Day: SERDEC calls on President Tinubu to provide Workers a Living Wage
The Socio Economic Research and Development Centre, SERDEC heartily felicitate with Nigeria on the occasion of this year’s democracy day celebration and commends the citizens effort the years of uninterrupted civil rule marking 25 years of sustaining the values of democracy despite challenges and trials encountered through the journey to a sustainable democratic nationhood.
While democracy may not have delivered the expectations and desired dividends of rapid Socio-economic and political development, the fact that democracy is still in existence brings hope for a better tomorrow through a collective interest, brotherhood and patriotic effort as we call on Nigerian to deepen our conviction, remain resolute and continue to demand for good governance and accountable leadership for democratic sustainability.
Like all democracies all over the world, no democracy is immune to the challenges faced by Nigeria today, however the resilience of the people and effective leadership go a long way in providing the right solution to goog governance for the nation to move forward and stand tall among the comity of nations.
Nigeria stands today as the poverty capital of the World, several global statistics have projected the country in negative lights ranging from corruption index to environment, health, insecurity, unemployment, inflation, unpopular economic policies and ineffective social reforms. Nigeria’s economy once Africa’s biggest has now slipped to the fourth in Africa. Despite being a leading oil producing country in the world, the oil-curse has continue to fuel corruption, deterioration standard of living, epileptic wages and income for worker and inequality which continue to threaten our Socio-economic and environmental landscape and existence.
With one year spent in office following the dramatic removal of Fuel Subsidy, Floating of the Naira, Tax system reform, the current government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policies despite pledges to turn around the economy have left a larger population of Nigerians in poverty, living below a dollar a day with no clear reform and effective strategy to address the drowning economy basked in weak monetary policies, imbalances in petrol prices, unstable prices of foodstuff, insecurity, dwindling foreign investment and aggressive inflation.
SERDEC calls on President Tinubu to expedite action in addressing the lingering issues concerning the wages of Nigeria Workers. The Current Wage system for Nigeria workers violates the fundamental rights to live, a crime against humanity and can only be refereed to as an economic genocide. No nation can be productive until it takes serious her workforce. With rising inflation twerking with poverty, The proposed N62,000 minimum wage is grossly insufficient to meet the value of basic needs for a health mind to be productive for a health economy that we envisage.
The government needs to take the fight against Corruption more serious as part of effort to address the current economic challenges. Corruption have adverse effects on both revenue and expenditure sides of government budgets and have immensely contributed to collapse of infrastructure and poor service delivery. Corruption is deep-seated with weak system. While it is commendable that within one year in office the government have taken proactive steps by prosecuting formal ministers and head of government agencies involved in corrupt practices in the last government and holding of its appointees to account following the suspension of the Humanitarian Minister, more confidence building action and approach is required to show commitment such as funding of anti-corruption agencies to carryout their activities independently without political interference and upholding the open government principles for inclusive governance, transparency and accountability in tackling corruption.
On the role of the judiciary in sustaining our democracy, SERDEC agrees that the Judiciary is expected to be the voice and hope for the masses and have a fundamental role to play in sustaining democracy. An effective democratic system can only be sustainable when law and order can be guaranteed by a sound and impartial judicial system. Regrettably, this enviable role has not been without some accusation being pointed at the hallowed temple of Justice due to antecedence of some members of the judiciary doling out conflicting orders and decision on political matters, this have left Nigerians confused as to the role of the judiciary as a platform to seek for justice in a democratic system or a tool in the hands of the political elites. The judiciary needs to be more independent, unbiased and courageous in giving proactive judgement that will thrive democracy and build confidence in the judicial system
Democratic maxim postulates the alienable rights of equality and freedom, consolidating democracy in Nigeria must come from an in-depth patriotic commitment to accountability, transparency, inclusion and responsiveness as this administration steps into her second year of governance, there is the need to show bold step toward building trust in leadership, Government can do better than mere political orchestra on matters of social protection and citizens welfare to quickly address the growing case of poverty and hunger.
Looking forward toward sustaining our democracy, we need to make it unattractive to political vultures who pilfer and wreak the national treasury, The government should reform the political system to make it unattractive by cutting the cost of governance. Democracy in Nigeria is our collective business as a nation-state. In a democracy, the concept of people is very critical in the measurement of the indices of her survival, growth and sustainability. It is however necessary that government at all levels should demonstrate a fair share of political will to sustain our much cherished democracy. We wish Nigeria many more years of sustained democratic ideal.
Mr. Tijani Abdulkareem
Executive Director,
Socio Economic Research and Development Centre,SERDEC