Encomium
With the skyrocketing prices of food stuffs and other commodities, bread winners are moaning and feeling the heat. State governments are owing salaries and privately owned companies downsizing. ENCOMIUM Weekly sampled opinions of bread winners about the state of the economy and how they are coping…
SHINA DOKUN
As a bread winner, do you think the state of the economy has made things more difficult?
Yes, the state of the economy has made things very difficult, and it is so unfair that things have turned out this way.
In what areas are you feeling the bite the most?
The pain is in all areas, it’s so bad that I can’t even tell which is more or less.
What do you think is the way out?
I am trying to gather money so I can take my family out of this country because things don’t seem to be getting better.
MRS. FOLASHADE A.
As a bread winner, do you think the state of the economy has made things more difficult?
Yes, indeed, it has and I can’t even explain how difficult things have been. God has just remained faithful. My husband is late and it’s been really hard to cater for my children from the proceeds of my business.
In what areas are you feeling the bite the most?
Basically, the difficulty is in all areas, everything has become expensive, and everyone blames it on the rise of the dollar. Even locally produced goods sellers lie against the dollar rate to hike prices.
What do you think is the way out?
The federal government should make amends and make things easier for the masses.
HASSAN ALAO
As a bread winner, do you think the state of the economy has made things more difficult?
It is very obvious that things have become more difficult, everyone is feeling the pangs.
In what areas are you feeling the bite the most?
Almost all the areas. My house rent has just been increased, food stuff and even regular household stuff.
What do you think is the way out?
The government should provide more jobs, and work on the continuous fall of the naira. If my wife had a job, the burden would have been a bit less.
MICHAEL ALADE
As a bread winner, do you think the state of the economy has made things more difficult?
Yes, it has. It is so crazy how things have become. Some companies are downsizing, others are folding up and the price of everything has skyrocketed.
In what areas are you feeling the bite the most?
For someone like me that hasn’t been paid last one month, every area would be difficult. Thank God for His grace. Transportation fare has increased even though the price of fuel has been reduced. Food stuff too is on the high side.
What do you think is the way out?
The way out is for the Finance Minister, the federal government, and the CBN governor to come together and look for a lasting solution to Nigeria’s economic problem.
NASIR ADEOBA
As a bread winner, do you think the state of the economy has made things more difficult?
Yes, the state of the economy has made things more difficult. Though I’ve not experienced the difficulty to the point where I can’t cope,things surely aren’t the way they used to be or ought to be.
In what areas are you feeling the bite the most?
The cost of everything is on the high side. So, I really can’t pin point what area the difficulty is more pronounced but majorly transportation and food stuff.
What do you think is the way out?
The way out is for the federal government to do everything possible to make life easier for everybody.
FRANCIS
As a bread winner, do you think the state of the economy has made things more difficult?
Yes, I think the state of the economy has made things more difficult. Everything has suddenly become expensive.
In what areas are you feeling the bite the most?
My children’s school fees was suddenly increased without notice, food stuff has become expensive, the cost of transportation is also high.
What do you think is the way out?
The way out is to stabilize the economy.
MRS. ADEOLA
As a bread winner, do you think the state of the economy has made things more difficult?
Yes, I think the state of the economy has made things more difficult as price of everything has skyrocketed.
In what areas are you feeling the bite the most?
The areas I’m feeling the bite most are school fees, food stuff and even common household commodities like toothpaste, toilet roll, soap, etc.
What do you think is the way out?
The way out is to make sure that the government does everything possible to make the naira rise. The fall of the Naira has caused everything to become more expensive.
MR OLANREWAJU YINKA
As a bread winner, do you think the state of the economy has made things more difficult?
Somehow, in the sense that a lot of states still owe salaries. The budget has not been passed. Things are a bits low, I must say. An average family spends money daily. They must spend money daily.
In what areas are you feeling the bite the most?
A lot of clients promise us contracts, we have not seen them. Prices of goods are sky rocketing every day. I can’t give my wife the same amount I was giving her last year for the family up keep.
What do you think is the way out?
We are appealing to the government to step into it. They should make the economy of this nation better. Then, we can all smile again.
RASAK AHMED
As a bread winner, do you think the state of the economy has made things more difficult?
Yes, I must confess. Things are tougher than they used to be. Price of everything have gone up. Everybody is feeling the hit, including the rich.
In what areas are you feeling the bite the most?
Salaries have not been paid for months. I am from Kogi State, we have not been paid for five months now. I have borrowed money and don’t know what to do again. I am now into farming.
What do you think is the way out?
Government should pay up all the salaries they are owing.
DAMOLA OLONODE
As a bread winner, do you think the state of the economy has made things more difficult?
Yes, it is really difficult. We prayed at the beginning of the year for a better year but I just don’t seem to understand or should I say it is because we are in January. May be things will improve by next month.
In what areas are you feeling the bite the most?
Mostly in the financial area. It is really hard to get by. School fees are there to be paid, house rent is also there to be paid.
What do you think is the way out?
I think our government has the answer. Some people are stealing Nigeria’s money while some can’t afford to eat two times a day. It is so unfortunate.
UCHE IGWE
As a bread winner, do you think the state of the economy has made things more difficult?
Things have not been as easy as it used to be. But we depend on God for a way out. God has been sustaining us in a miraculous way.
In what areas are you feeling the bite the most?
Where else, it is the financial aspect. Bills keep on coming, before you can sort out one, another one is waiting. Feeding the house hold is also becoming harder. The children will go to school, eat. You have siblings who you are sponsoring. The list is endless, my dear.
What do you think is the way out?
May be I should ask you the same question because I don’t know the answer. The government is not helping. It seems all their effort is making matters worse. May be we should look up to God more for a way out. He only has the answer.
JAMES OKON
As a bread winner, do you think the state of the economy has made things more difficult?
Yes. Things started becoming difficult when the last administration was preparing to round off. Things have not really improved since then. It is just a slight relief we have seen since them. I hope this change of a thing that this administration is talking about will be a positive one indeed.
In what areas are you feeling the bite the most?
Settling of bills. The list is endless, house rent, school fees. To make things worse, my children’s school increased their fees in second term, electricity bill, LAWMA. I stay in an estate, we pay different kinds of bills that may be like N3,000 every month. The list is endless ooo. I cannot finish it.
What do you think is the way out?
We are calling on the government to make good their promise of giving us the change we need. They should also make it snappy so that things will not go totally out of hand.
VICTOR AJAYI
As a bread winner, do you think the state of the economy has made things more difficult?
Yes, times are tough. Times are really rougher than it used to be. Prices of food stuffs are not the same again. You cannot give your wife the same amount you were giving her before. There is no increment in salaries, men are losing their jobs, it is really a sad case. The tough situation has made men become babies. You need to see how a friend of mine was crying. Things went so bad for him. He lost his job, his wife is a sit at home woman, his mom is sick, his children were sent out of school. It is really tough.
In what areas are you feeling the bite the most?
Settling of bills, feeding the family. I have reduced and reduced every luxury more than the barest minimum. I don’t know what else to do.
What do you think is the way out?
Please, beg the government for us. Nigerians are dying. Most men can’t take up their responsibilities again. It is the women that are feeding their family now. Help us beg them not to send us all to an early grave.
MAMOD ISIAKA
As a bread winner, do you think the state of the economy has made things more difficult?
Yes, it has. You need to work harder, think harder, get multiple source of income. Even at that, we are still feeling the heat. May God come to our aid before it gets out of hand.
In what areas are you feeling the bite the most?
Every aspect of life is experiencing hard times. Using a cable TV was nothing before but now, it is a big deal. I subscribe once in a while. I can’t watch myself using about N5,000 to recharge it when the children’s school fees are still starring me in the face. I used to give my wife N30,000 for monthly up keep, before. I can’t afford to give her half of that now. She too has to get additional source of income. We are just getting by really.
What do you think is the way out?
I believe this administration has the good of Nigerians at heart. May be we should be more patient for things to work out well for the country.
UCHE NWOSU
As a bread winner, do you think the state of the economy has made things more difficult?
I don’t think anybody should he asked that question because it is very obvious. If you buy something today, when you get there after two days time, the amount would have increased.
In what areas are you feeling the bite the most?
Price of everything has gone up. Just name it, we are just depending on God for sustenance . My wife use cooking gas but I will tell you that for four months, I have not been able to refill the cylinder for her. It is not that I don’t have the money to refill it but I dare not because there are other things I have to use the money for. I have to apply a scale of preference.
What do you think is the way out?
God should have mercy on Nigeria. Our leaders should sit and look at the best ways to tackle this problem.
MICHEAL EMONDI
As a bread winner, do you think the state of the economy has made things more difficult?
Things are more difficult and a lot of people are complaining. Even Government is owing it salaries. May God help us.
In what areas are you feeling the bite the most?
To be sincere, I am not really feeling the heat as such. God has been good to me and my household. Our business is doing fine. My wife is setting up another branch of our business. We hope to employ more hands to assist us in our new branch.
What do you think is the way out?
The government can address the challenges the nation is going through right now. May be we should give them more time to fix things.
FUNMI AJAO
As a bread winner do you think the state of the economy has made things more difficult?
Things are not as easy as they used to be. Handling the whole thing as a single mother has not been easy. But God is ever so faithful. He will continue to help shoulder the burden.
In what areas are you feeling the bite the most?
Catering for the children’s needs, my needs, rent, feeding, everything. I had to start a small business in order to meet up. Still, I am not finding it funny.
What do you think is the way out?
The federal government should make amends and make things easier for the masses.
