Solomon's Column

Caution has been thrown to the winds and Those-in-Charge in Nigeria today have gone into an external borrowing spree. Presently, the country's external debt is about N39.56 trillion and at the end of the present administration, it shall be more. In 50 Bc, Pubilius Syrus opined that debt is the slavery of the free. Syrus further asserted that a debtor is not only in perpetual bondage to his creditors until he returns his debts, but the debtor also breathes the air of insecurity characterized by harassment. The activities of the present administration revolve around the above-mentioned, even as the administration continues to cope with the creditors' domination of its affairs. Several months to the 2023 general elections, the government is yet to achieve a more diversified economy away from the oil sector, public debts are on the increase, the worrisome deterioration of education and health services, the absence of potable water, and erratic supply of electricity, food insecur

The Legislature at all levels of government have from time immemorial depended on the executive for their survival. To this extent, the lawmakers are always exposed to the arm-twisting tactics of Those-in-Charge. Read-Helplessness in the Face of Dirt Several instances abound wherein the committees on public accounts and other committees discover irregularities in the budget preparation and implementation of a sizable number of Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDA)in the course of carrying out their oversight functions. The committees usually send out notice of invitations to the Ministers and other heads of the MDAs, sadly, such invitations were ignored without consequences. Indeed, all those in this dispensation are witnesses to the promotion of impunity and double standards, even as the suggestion is that Those-in-Charge are now preoccupied with preparations for life after governance. The suffocating security situation across Nigeria and the priorities of certain heads of l