In the field of science, energy is generally defined as “the ability to do work”. In economics, energy utilisation becomes an academic study that points towards understanding all factors and variables at play, with critical focus on the source of wealth creation. This economics especially involves a broad scientific study that includes activities that relate to supply and energy demand in the larger society. Between these two areas of studying about human endeavours lies its management for the sustainable existence of all living things, particularly on energy consumption, importance and financial benefits to mankind. The economic meaning is actually given to the cost of energy services and related value for energy production efficiency. Energy consumption, therefore, links wages and welfare to disposable incomes of average energy consumers in the economy. This invariably narrows all energy challenges down to its financial implications. Energy production, utilisation or consumption and its overall impact determines how well or how poor an economy is performing (especially in monetary terms). Energy business is therefore better managed by institutions that manage all aspects of the energy operational cycles, best handled and done professionally; otherwise its consequential failures could be catastrophic. What is happening in Nigeria’s energy sector and the oil industry is a clear example that has no ambiguity in understanding what energy matters mean for all citizens.
The issues that have to do with energy consumption, for the economy to be efficiently run, clearly manifest all symptoms, damages done and the eventual consequences that affect virtually all social classes in the system. The most pathetic and disturbing of all is the impact on vulnerable Nigerians immediately after the fuel subsidy was removed in 2023 precisely during the swearing-in of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. A lot of turbulence erupted instantly within the economy. Many Nigerians started to face hardship, hunger and extremely high cost of living that instantly threw millions of Nigerians into deeper poverty. Excessively high inflationary variables took center stage all over the country, especially in the commodity market. The cost of transportation visibly exacerbated the pains and agony of the masses in the society who could no longer meet up with the skyrocketing high costs of goods and services. This narrative is better presented through the experiences shared by the citizens themselves than a written testament because most households could no longer afford to place food on the table to feed their families. It was that bad! Protests, industrial actions and other forms of peaceful demonstrations were embarked on by people who took to the streets to express their anger and numerous grievances to the governments at all levels.
All over the world the international labour/workers’ day is celebrated every 1st day of May. How this day, popularly called “May Day” or “workers’ day”, came to be designated for workers recognition and activism is not known to most individuals all over the world. However, it is often used by workers to vent their grievances before governments and those in authority in their respective commanding heights. It is in this guise that the leadership of the labour unions in Nigeria came out to speak for the voiceless during this year’s May Day. Joe Ajaero, the president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), unequivocally spoke on fuel subsidy removal that has eroded the N70,000 minimum wage while clamouring for a living wage for Nigerians (the paid workers). The plight of Nigerian workers regarding inadequate wages and poor welfare was visibly lamented by many citizens of Nigeria, where the consumer price indices are far above what the common Nigerians could afford with their meager salaries. In the electronic media all over the country, lamentations and cries for urgent intervention by the sitting government were made to mitigate the sufferings and alleviate the pains of citizens.
In the same vein, an alternative means of energy supply for transportation was hammered on by union leaders who spoke in favour of consumption of compressed natural gas (CNG) in place of the costlier refined petroleum products (PMS and AGO) for running of passenger/commuter buses and cargo vehicles for haulage. Now that the president has responded by assuring that through the ‘renewed hope agenda’ of his administration, the suffering of the masses shall be addressed, let that be an implementable promise, without rhetoric, but with the political will that shall change the narrative for the suffering masses everywhere in the land.
Nigerians are globally recognised to be very resilient people and are ready to forget these hard times very easily, if the government in power sincerely comes to their aid and reduces the economic pains by engaging every necessary government machinery and applying all known economic tools. Let the government show empathy this time, and sincerely act for humanity, without applying insensitive administrative steps, as a matter of urgency!
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