Expectedly most Nigerians
have criticized and rejected the fuel
subsidy removal presented as a New Year
gift by the government, albeit few have
supported it. While I do not intend to
delve into the nitty-gritty, criticize
or justify the plausibility of the
reasons touted or adduced for the hike
in fuel prices, my major concern is the
timing. The point must be made that even
the best of policy reforms, with all the
good intentions, right motives and
plausible justifications, if introduced
or implemented at the wrong,
inauspicious or inappropriate time, are
likely to boomerang and meet with a
brick wall, vehement opposition and
stiff resistance by the stake holders.
Wrong or inappropriate timing creates a
potential mine field, landmine and
‘time-bomb’ that is capable of
undermining or jeopardizing the success
of any policy change or reform.
Experience has shown
that, in many cases, the difference or
missing link between the success and
failure of a policy change lies in
timing. Timing is a crucial, critical
and sensitive factor in determining the
success or failure of any policy reform
or transformational change. A positive
or progressive change could loose its
meaning if it is not balanced by
appropriate timing. For a change to be
successful and enduring, therefore, it
has to be well timed. Any policy
change or reform that is hastily
introduced or implemented without due
consideration to appropriate timing and
adequate consultations with key
stakeholders is not only meaningless,
worthless and purposeless but also
amounts to a travesty and a pipe dream
which cannot stand the test of time.
Effective and visionary leaders
recognize that when to effect a change
is as critically and strategically
important as the change itself.
According to the Nobel Laureate and
playwright, Prof. Wole Soyinka “Timing
is a crucial part of leadership
intelligence and sensibility”.
A truly positive change
must, therefore, be time sensitive and
effected with a “human face”. The
change leader must ensure the right
change at the right time, for the change
to win the support and enjoy the
acceptance of the stakeholders. This is
because a good change at the wrong time
is as good as a bad change which,
abinitio, is a futile attempt, and, ipso
facto, programmed and doomed to fail.
In this context,
therefore, it will be considered
insensitive, ill-conceived and ill-timed
to introduce an upward change or
increase in the prices of petroleum
products at a time when the problems of
inadequate infrastructures have not been
effectively addressed. In a situation
where there is poor and inefficient mode
of public transportation system, as we
presently have in Nigeria, coupled with
widespread poverty, it will be
insensitive and counter-productive to
hike the price of such a strategic
commodity as fuel, as this is likely to
shoot-up the cost of public
transportation which is majorly used by
the vulnerable mass majority of the
populace. Concomitantly, an increase in
the cost of transportation will have a
snow-ball or spill-over effect on the
cost of consumer items which are mainly
distributed via the transportation
system thereby engendering cost-push or
consumer price inflation with the
attendant socio-economic costs. This
will further escalate and exacerbate the
level of poverty with the resultant
worsening and aggravation of the level
of tension and insecurity in the
country.
The increase in price
(removal of subsidy) of petroleum
products, at this point in time, is to
say the list, inimical, iniquitous,
injudicious and untenable as this will
have adverse and deleterious effect on
the well-being of average Nigerians.
Apart from offending the sensibilities
of the Nigerian people [at a time they
are going through some excruciating and
debilitating economic difficulties], the
removal of fuel subsidy, without any
form of intervention or social safety
net (“human face”) by the
government to mitigate the possible
hardships, cushion the likely
inconveniences and alleviate the initial
adverse or harmful effects, will cause
the critical mass of our people,
especially the under privilege,
downtrodden and vulnerable class in the
society to feel disempowered,
disenchanted and cheated (rightly and
understandably so) and may consequently
revolt, savage and resist the change, as
we are presently witnessing.
Finally, let me sound a
note of caution and make it abundantly
clear to our leaders, that it is
delusional and indeed a grave mistake,
fallacy and misconception to believe
that they can introduce or implement
policy reforms without considering
appropriate timing, peculiarities and
realities on ground as well as their
compatibility with the mood, feelings,
demands, wishes, hopes, expectations,
yearnings and aspirations of the people
– for whose benefit the policies or
reforms are supposedly meant in the
first place – and expect the change to
succeed. Such leaders must be living in
fool’s paradise! Indeed such a scenario
or situation clearly shows that there is
a gulf or disconnect between the
leadership and the people which in
itself is a major hindrance to change.
Kayode Oluwa,
President, Academy for
leadership and change management, wrote
vide 4c Femi Okunu estate, Phase 2,
Lekki, Lagos. He can be contacted on 08033233844
or
oluwa95@yahoo.com
Published
January 8th, 2012
