By Uzoma
Ahamefule
This piece looks at the exclusivity of Imo State Association in
Austria, its inauguration in Vienna on the 24.09.2016 and why other
Nigerian associations in Diaspora should copy it. It also looks at the
situation of Nigerian state workers under the present economic hardship without
salaries.
Imo state indigenes set records worth emulating wherever they are.
As statistics show in Nigeria, Imo is the most educated state in the most
populous black nation in the world, followed by Delta State and Anambra State.
In Austria, Vienna some have asked; where are the Imo indigenes as a group?
“With the timbre and caliber of people they have and their numerical strength;
why are they silent as a people in Austria,” many queried? But never mind
because a man who is urinating is holding something.
On Saturday, September 24, 2016 “Imo State Community
Austria” will be inaugurated at VHS Großfeldsiedlung,
Kürschnergasse 9, 1210 Vienna. The Governor of Imo State His
Excellency, Rochas Anayo Okorocha as a special guest is expected to top the
list of royal fathers, traditional rulers and politicians invited from Imo
State.
And like home like abroad, the association in Austria is at the
verge of setting a very high standard of what Nigerian associations in the
western world should be doing back home with what it called “capital projects”
in order to provide jobs and opportunities. These “capital projects” include
agriculture, building hospitals and schools. And with the economic crisis in
Nigeria now, the neglect and the suffering of state workers the concept of
Imolites is worth publicizing in order to awaken the consciousness of other Nigerian
Diaspora associations.
When I remember that my sister who was five months pregnant died
in a hospital in Nigeria because doctors refused to attend to her because of
money, when I remember that many workers are not getting paid at the end of
every month, when I remember the recent statement credited to Anambra State
Governor, Willie Obiano that “it is wicked not to pay workers their salaries,”
then I know the reality that many have died and will still die in hospitals
like my sister. As a matter of fact, with pains and regrets I always embrace
any opportunity like the one coming from the Imo indigenes in Austria –
“capital project”. And it is on this note that I wish to look at the plight and
sad conditions of Nigerian state workers.
The inflation in Nigeria right now is very high. The naira
(currency) foreign exchange rate presently fluctuates between N420 and N460 to
$1. Though the money is very hard to get, but even when one gets it its
purchasing power is exceedingly very weak. While political leaders build
mansions, afloat in wealth and goodies, ordinary citizens can no longer afford
even everyday food, as prices of essential commodities like tomatoes, garri and
rice have rocketed out of the affordability of the poor. Families are very
hungry and helpless. The situation has inflamed alarming increment in
prostitution, crime and other social vices, as people presently live in terror
especially in the nights. To add salt to injury, workers have not been paid
their salaries for up to eight months, depending on one’s state. Nonetheless
the workers are still expected to transport themselves or fuel their
cars/motorbikes and come to work and equally discharge their duties diligently
without being corrupt. People with children must also pay school fees, clothes
and food, but how and how long they will sincerely carry out these unavoidable
huge fundamental responsibilities under this harsh conditions and brutal
environment would be the ninth wonder of the world. Frankly speaking the true
situation of these Nigerian average workers right now is really pitiable and
extremely heartbreaking. But how truly fair and honest is it that a State
Assembly member/a commissioner/a political appointee who earns millions as
salary and gets paid health, transport, security and housing allowances every
month, but a normal average worker who earns only N18.000 or less than N20.000
naira in a month does not get paid because the economy is bad?
As the predicament remains without any clear hope of recourse for
the common state workers in Nigeria I have fears, and my heart aches.
Consequently and in solidarity and fairness, I solicit that State Assembly
members, commissioners and government appointees should equally not be paid
their salaries and allowances in any state where average workers have not been
paid their wages. They also need to feel the brunt of their mismanagements and
greed, perhaps only then they could find solutions. Yes, it is not a sham that
the economy is bad but these myopic, unproductive and selective approaches are
nothing but politics and deceit, and it is insulting and a rascal display of
power with impunity.
Contradictorily one of the solutions to the present economic bash
is not the punitive measure adopted against average state workers because that
breeds criminality and more problems than its intent, but reduction of the
number of the sitting days and hours of the state assembly members, reduction
of their salaries and travel allowances, and cessation of their security,
health and housing allowances – they corruptly never provided such privileges
for common citizens even though they could have, and they also don’t deserve
them.
Many of these generation politicians in Nigeria are very wicked,
unscrupulous and brutal. Objectively speaking voluminous numbers of them are
heartless criminals, fraudsters and murderers that are supposed to be caged in
prisons but who unfortunately continue to intimidate and manipulate the minds
of thehungry, gullible and uninformed populace to gain positions of power. My
heart bleeds.
As Imo workers wear frown faces, Imo State citizens in Austria
react
As states in Nigeria right now struggle to find solutions to the
current economic recession, some have decided to be paying workers half of
their monthly salaries while some are still contemplating reducing the workers’
N18.000 (less than $50) minimum wages. On the part of Imo, the government has
introduced a policy where workers work for only three days in a week instead of
the normal five working days and urges them to use the two free days to work on
their farms in order to supplement because they would not get paid in those
compulsory free days. It is on this note that I think that finally the
emergence of “Imo State Community Austria” with planned heavy
projects in focus under the slogan of “unity is strength” is timely. If any of
their capital projects had started and had been completed before now at least
few homes today would have been assured of their daily meals.
The association wants to partner with its government in Imo and
situate its “capital projects” for the benefit of all. It is a nongovernmental
organization made up of respected men and women in Austria. It has over 100
financial members.
The members’ vision, ideology and modus operandi as a determined
generation that wants to leave legacies in the state where they come from is
absolutely and positively unusual of Nigerian associations in Diaspora, and it
is highly commendable. From Italy to Japan, from London to Canada and from
Australia to Germany and to USA etcetera, it is a common knowledge that the
story is the same for Nigerian associations to wait only for their member to
die or his/her wife/husband/child/relative before they give little assistance –
a law copied by all with just little amendments. Honestly some of the
associations have overstayed their usefulness, as some have become a gossiping
group where one makes more enemies than friends. Very common with these
Diaspora associations are celebrations of wedding/child-naming ceremonies, and
there is no significant presence of them in their respective states.
While it is a prerogative right of the government to provide
enabling environments for investors, it is the responsibility of individuals or
groups to make inquiries. Again I commend Imolites in Austria for their
initiative of reaching their state government in tandem of bringing their
vision of “capital projects” in Imo. And I urge other Igbos in Austria and
other Nigerian associations in Diaspora to please think alike and ask
themselves: what can we bring home? We need industries and factories back home
– “capital projects” - so that our people could be employed. If it is difficult
now to bring foreign investors at least hospitals and schools etcetera can be
built, and these are things that would not only bring honor but also save
lives, provide employments and build opportunities for generations. In a state
where the government proves unhelpful, an association can on its own acquire a
land, build a primary or a secondary school, equip it to European standard, and
employ qualified teachers, and make it affordable for all except the children
and direct relatives of political leaders, past and present – in order to give
those less privileged children from poor families a qualitative education for tomorrow’s challenge
– remember, education is the right and the best key to success.
With this exemplary method in Austria, Imo indigenes deserve
commendations and encouragements, and I hope that their state government will
reciprocate their hands of friendship. Our fingers are crossed.
Uzoma Ahamefule, a patriotic citizen, writes from Vienna, Austria.
Mobile: +436607369050 – also Whatsapp
Facebook: Aham Uzoma
Mail: uzomaah@yahoo.com
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