I just can’t help thinking about the thoughtfulness of the powers that be in my country of birth.
Why?
At every level, they’re building bridges where there used to be none.
I’d been occupied with other things before a friend posted a link on my WhatsApp page. The link is of the Eleyi of Ogun State’s announcement that in order to phase out internal combustion engine bikes, his government, in partnership with some company, will introduce electric bikes.
That’s a good development, isn’t it?
But my gut instinct told me to check the prices of e-bikes online. I was aghast at the prices. But then, I was consoled by the fact that Ogun State has crude oil which it would use to finance the project. I was also consoled by the fact that the state has 24/7 electric supply and good roads for the e-bikes to sail on.
The other one – among others – is the proposed reconciliation with touts a.k.a. Area Boys. The government is proposing to use them as tax collectors.
What a brilliant idea?
The average Nigerian is not a natural taxpayer. Isn’t it commendable that government wants to use the unusual enforcement skills of the agbero to collect taxes?
The government will, by so doing, be killing several birds with one stone.
The graduates loitering the streets looking for nonexistent jobs are not just cut out for tax-collection which may involve using “other” means on those who fail to pay their taxes. In fact, those who fail might be dealt with immediately.
Other nations will soon start visiting Nigeria to learn how governments are run!
