Teacher’s Strike

Staff campaign for pay rise

This week, I was shocked to hear that school teachers had gone on strike. Actually, traffic was kind of lighter than usual, this I mistakenly attributed to the on-going UEFA Champions league matches knowing fully well that Arsenal, Man-U and Chelsea (and some Liverpool) fans would like to watch the games live even if it meant staying back in the office or at home (call-in-sick). This Day made it clear (http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=136699) how pupils will be affected negatively by this development, final year pupils especially. I really don’t know why teachers so poorly paid have to fight tooth and nail to get an increase in the face of searing inflation, devaluation of the Naira (The naira was 117 naira to a dollar as at 28th of November) at 165 naira to a dollar. The lowly paid ones feel the ripple effect the most ranging from food stuff, house rent, health, transportation and clothing.

Credit Crunch

February was fast! If you are still paying up debts you “amassed” during the month of December, you can pay up this March as 30 days should make one more pay. But if you fell a victim during vals, with Easter likely to be on the way, don’t dip your hands into your pocket just yet. Okay if the teachers are complaining bitterly and even going on strike, they have every right to. People in the private sector dare not try that. The global credit disaster has left a lot of people unemployed as companies keep downsizing. At present, most companies instead of recruiting are relieving employees of their jobs and overworking the surviving ones. It’s a matter of holding on to your job. It was predicted that Nigeria would not be affected by the Credit Crunch but whoever published that probably forgot that at least 4 billion dollars is pumped into the Nigerian Economy by Nigerians in Diaspora. Already, many are returning from the UK to seek a better life in Lagos. Companies are reviewing budgets and are very reluctant to sign P.O.’s as the traffic indicators stand still on “RED”. Oceanic Bank for example did not retain a single Corper among the resently unleashed Batch A NYSC members. A very rare occurence in banks nowadays. GTB also sacked some members of staff for not showing up at the last annual retreat. The fact is most companies are seriously looking for ways to downsize, free up the wage bill and reduce operating expenses as much as possible. Will things get better soon? Do you expect a yes? Then keep tab on what’s happening to America and Obama’s mission of “Hope”. The obvious fact is that the credit crunch is affecting Nigeria regardless of what we initially thought. The earlier we address the issue the better. Address in the sense that we, as individuals, need to find alternatives and to battle hard to survive these times. It is purely coincidental that our Governor is trying to keep Lagos clean at the moment, thereby relieving people of their “jobs”. Coupled with the c.c., well, I just hope it won’t be long before everyone walks on the street carrying three things:

1. Audacity of Hope by Barrack Obama
2. The Holy Bible/Qu’ran
3. Revolver or Knife

Fuel Pump Price Hike

Okay, the FG has been subsdising the cost of fuel before I was born but really, I do not understand how after almost 50 years of independence we cannot refine enough crude oil for use or export and now we will be left at the mercy of “independent” marketers (IMs). Hmmm. Interesting. They’ve promised that prices are likely to be low (even without subsidy) since our IMs are not greedy milk-them-quick people. To have this coming in at this time of the GCC (Global Credit Crunch), I think it’s a welcome decision and hopefully that should boost the value of the Naira (Mr CBN won’t it?). It’s for our own good anyway, that’s what “they” said and I can only hope…

Click here to compare the price of petrol/gasoline in other parts of the world: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline_usage_and_pricing

Flood

Okay the rains are here again. And with on-going road reconstruction, it remains to be seen if this is one department where the Governor will score the least. Drainage has been a huge problem in the past, contributing to gridlocks (heaviest traffic), robbery, loss of homes and breakdown of vehicle not to mention, lateness to work. If Lagos can keep the floods away for once then we should have a pleasant March to August. Unfortunately, I don’t see us living this “good life” until sometime next year!

Buy Garri

Before I say bye – bye, I should remind you that the global credit crunch will not affect 4 things: Food, clothing, housing and Internet. If you are in any of these businesses, you should continue to live large. Obviously, music, movies, advertising, religion and education will continue to thrive. If you are thinking of investing heavily in electronics or automobiles, I think this is not a good time. Invest wisely and remember that the GCC is also affecting 419ers (visit www.419eater.com), don’t fall mugu to Land/Property/Mowe-Ibafo scams.

Happy New month!

I leave you with a video from Hon. Lekan Kamson… A must see.

Links: www.lagoscityphotos.blogspot.com

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