Impoverishing Of Nigerians: Ajadi Restates commitment to Citizens’ Welfare Card

The impoverishing of Nigerians by the recent Naira redesign policy is a source of concern to New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) gubernatorial candidate, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo.

Ajadi who seeks the mandate of Ogun people to become their next governor, lamented how the policy, which though might be well-intentioned, has led to the impoverishing of Nigerians overnight.

He said it has made him redouble his resolve to prioritise people’s welfare, adding that the impact would have been less if the people had strong personal economic bases before now.

He said it had also shown the financial sector needed to do more in terms of inclusion of the masses in the operations, adding that with more efficient online banking, there would have been less challenges on the masses.

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“I have been touched by the sufferings and hardship that people have been going through since the policy, and it shows us as leaders and as followers in the country, that we have work to do.

“The redesign policy may have its advantages, but the truth is that people are suffering.

“You and I have been seeing the number of queues at every bank and the high service charges by Point of Service (POS) operators, who bears the suffering, it is the masses”, he observed.

He said a part-solution to these is a people-friendly government at all levels, a banking system that is proactive and leaders that feel what the masses feel”

Ajadi, in a telephone chat, commended the action of some leaders who quickly rallied round and made available sums of money for distribution to their people as a way of cushioning the effect of the Naira scarcity, adding that it would have gone a long way if governments and authorities elsewhere had borrowed such a leaf.

“That is why it is part of my agenda to put in place, a citizens’ welfare initiative, which would prioritise the welfare of our people, especially the masses.

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“We can have a welfare card which could help people get support in terms of crisis like the last one.

“Such a programme would be concerned about the totality of the welfare of the people”, he said.

However, he said a longer term solution, is for programmes that fight poverty, and empower the people economically, adding that the poverty rate in the country could actually be tackled with good governance policies.

“That is part of what we have been preaching to the people. And it is possible. We have done it in the other circles where we are operating, we can do it in a larger circle, state-wide, God permitting”, he said.