By Ahmed Balarabe Sa’id
The fears heightened by rapid escalation of the COVID 19 since the first recorded index case in the country require proactive measures particularly at state levels where the numbers have remained remarkably low. One of such states is Kaduna where until very recently, the state has retained a one-digit mark in the number of recorded cases, according to official figures made available by the National Center for Disease Control, NCDC. Given the associated challenges identified with the pandemic as we have come to realize on a global scale, the current attractive standing of Kaduna State in checking the rise in numbers of infected persons requires commendation and encouragement. Against the backdrop of the state’s strategic location as a gateway to other parts of northern Nigeria, the expectation that, Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai will demonstrate leadership and act effectively has also been challenged by his contacting of the virus, in a sense.
For a governor already doing remarkably well in a number of areas we can identify and appropriately benchmark within tangible development indices, Malam el-Rufai’s triumphant defeat of the virus after weeks in isolation speaks to the state’s level of preparedness to contain the pandemic, and may have further inspired hope while heightening the expectations of the citizens in terms of the appropriate and effective strategies to be deployed against its spread. It is in the light of this that, the State Standing Committee on COVID-19, headed by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe is being publicly profiled. With a couple of concrete directives and outings by the committee suggesting steady progress, including the provision and availability of isolation and testing centres respectively; and with the numbers of recorded cases remaining on the low, the average Kaduna citizen would expect any further review by the committee to acknowledge the specific, tangible gains recorded so far in the fight against the pandemic in clear terms, the gaps or threats identified and the areas requiring improvement, including strong assurances to secure their buy-in, moving forward.
If this was the objective of the latest statement by the state government, reviewing the earlier invoked Quarantine Act to further extend the lock down for another 30 days among others effective from April 26, it may have fallen short of the desired assurances required to offer hope to an already disillusioned citizenry. The major thrust of the statement and the justification advanced for the extension is the strengthening of the provisions against unauthorized movement. This is among other considerations proposed by the COVID committee for the governor’s approval. Regrettably there is less in the statement to suggest more that is being done to inspire hope and encourage compliance. Rather than a holistic assessment of the entire response framework and the benefit of more viable assurances including a possible strategy overhaul, there is a narrowing more profoundly to the upbraiding of violators of the imposed restriction of movements; whereas a lot more needs to be (shown to have been) done to build resilience of the people and earn their confidence. Curiously the admittance of evidence of interstate travels in violation of the restriction has portrayed a failure of strategy identified against a pervasively weak enforcement by state authorities.
The force in the tone of the latest pronouncement by the state government may have been justified by the compelling need for such, within the relevant laws, in the prevailing circumstances. However, the two-day window previously enjoyed by residents locked down in their homes now reduced to Wednesdays only without a complimentary action plan to offer (dis)incentives for encouraging compliance, leaves a lot more to be desired.
For instance, it would have been reasonable to properly situate this cut in the window within the context of an overall broader action plan, say, for instance, an enhanced penetration of community testing and more robust community engagement which could include scaling up palliatives for the indigent and vulnerable critical mass, with particular attention to reviewing the method of disbursement of relief packages and other social safety nets to make it more adequate and efficient. Not doing so in the current review of action leaves the impression of ‘business-as-usual’ in the expected state-wide disbursements. This is primarily because the scheme already suffers a crisis of public confidence, from widespread reports of diversion of food items and severe inadequacy, where available, in the earlier exercise covering 59 community clusters across nine local government areas.
It is also baffling to read that, the State Standing Committee has gotten the nod of the governor to initiate a 25% cut in the salaries of the state’s employees within a category which certainly includes medical workers on the COVID-19 frontline; and cause senior appointees to donate N500,000 this month with additional 50% of their earnings in subsequent months till this pandemic ends. We may agree that the state possibly lacks the funds to wage this war, given the appeal extended to corporate bodies, donors and philanthropists; but, is this the ideal among other possible options in addressing this? While many of us never knew that regular appointees earned high enough to possibly offer that much, would it not be appropriate if the gesture is made voluntary, especially for the other category of workers giving up 25% of their monthly wage? Given the propensity of an army of beneficiaries trailing every individual Nigerian worker, such a cut, in a critical time as this, clearly shows less empathy and may deepen despondency for average earners in particular.
In the overall, a lot that is already being done by the state government regarding COVID-19 is not adequately or effectively disseminated. Beyond reinforcing the traditional safety protocols and the current consideration for enforcement of the wearing of face masks, we should consistently be told what the state government has done so far in aggregating goodwill to raise funds and improve its response capacity, including assuring disclosures of existing containment and complimentary relief strategies beyond lockdown extension. Detailed information on facilities and equipments already procured, scaling up of capacities already secured and more effective and adequate means of disbursement of relief materials, especially food items, can redress apathy to continued compliance while allaying fears.
A larger underlying threat that confronts us is pervasive hunger. What is being done to motivate farmers to mitigate a bigger post-COVID problem? At this point of the COVID crisis, the people desire hope and the benefit of more assurances and tangible incentives, rather than statements which threaten them and may not build their resilience. While this latest pronouncement appears to be a leap in the overall action plan on the part of government, it is far from persuasive and imposes more despair on the part of a citizenry already in a loop of uncertainty and avoidable apprehension.
- Sa’id writes from Hayin Danmani New Layout, Kaduna.
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