Other governments should emulate Governor Fintiri's approach to salary increases, as it specifically targeted the lowest-paid employees. Those who benefited from the salary increase were primarily in the lower cadres.
Because the affected individuals were low-income earners, the increase did not cause inflation or excessive money in circulation. Furthermore, there were no outstanding salary arrears.
I also advise this government to improve the standard of living by investing more in agricultural production. The government should purchase farming inputs and implements to semi-mechanize agriculture. This includes tractors and other farming tools that will enable farmers to cultivate more land. Using hoes and cutlasses will not significantly increase production.
Similarly, providing cheaper and abundant farming inputs like fertilizers and herbicides will dramatically boost food production, ultimately combating hunger.
If food is affordable, concerns about wage increases become less pressing. Therefore, the government should allocate approximately 20% of its budget to agricultural production. This is a recommendation from the World Bank to all developing nations seeking to overcome hunger.
Mass urban and rural transportation projects should be aggressively implemented. This will reduce transportation costs, which have significantly impacted the meager wages paid to workers.
As a matter of utmost importance, the government should introduce subsidies for healthcare delivery. Hospitals should be well-stocked with drugs and sell them to the general public at 10% of the cost. This will go a long way toward reducing high mortality rates and other preventable illnesses.
Addressing these three key areas of agriculture, transportation, and healthcare delivery will undoubtedly make life more livable.
Tags
Opinion