Same Old Story?

I won't forget the morning of Monday, 15th June for quite a while. For several hours two questions haunted my mind.

1. Have I as well as several millions of other Nigerians been hoodwinked into believing that we would witness real 'Change' in Nigeria?

And 

2. Will we ever get away from the heartless corruption that runs rife within this nation's shores?

Why these questions?

When I get to the office on Monday mornings, as is our usual ritual my friend /business associate and I have a chat about anything ranging from business to national socio economic matters to life in general. Within minutes of commencing our chat on Monday, 15th June, he asked 'have you seen this?' as he passed me the day's edition of Thisday Newspaper. 

Shock and horror engulfed me as I read the headline;

"National Assembly To Get NGN8.64bn Wardrobe Allowance"

"But...but I don't understand. How can this be approved? After all the 'Change' we've all been talking about this is major slap in the face," I remonstrated.

"What are you talking about?! Is this not Nigeria?! Obviously a deal has been done somewhere," replied my friend. 

Should I tell you how ferociously my heart thumped during the next few minutes? Or maybe the tears I shed as a result of confusion, frustration, and simply not seeing a way out of Nigeria's problems?

On what planet is it okay for Reps and Senators to collect NGN17.5m (US$77,433) each and NGN21.5m (US$92,920) each a year respectively for clothing???

In the US - the World's Leading Nation, rank and file Senators and Representatives are paid between US$141,000 and US$171,000 respectively - IN TOTAL.  

In other words our Legislatives' Wardrobe Allowance is half of the annual salary of that of a US Legislator.

During the past couple of months we've heard time and time again that Nigeria is flat broke; that the treasury and reserves are way passed rock bottom.

Businesses continue to experience the painful consequences of the nation's economy being so heartlessly pillaged; Households continue to stress about buying Petrol; Electricity remains evasive as the humming sound of generators drain our energy, psych, and morale; Food Prices continue to increase, as do transport fares; Poverty is at an all time high, as is Unemployment;  and the nation continues to stumble around in Darkness.

And yet, for all the promises of Change, Nigeria's legislators have demonstrated in one fell swoop that nothing has changed at all; at least not where they're concerned.  

Do these legislators have any kind of empathy for the plight of the people that voted them in???

What is even more depressing is that absolutely nothing will be done about this. We'll kick and scream for a few days, then everything will die down, the legislators collect their cash, buy houses and cars for their many mistresses and girlfriends (it's all about bedding the ladies), and buy houses and cars for themselves.  

We in turn will no doubt marvel at their wealth, and ponder on how wonderful it is to have money. 

Is there any way out of this? 

Again, as I pointed out last week, these are more or less the same problems that existed in 1960. 

Is Nigeria doomed to an eternity of reckless and heartless spending by its so-called public servants?