Is universal basic income possible in Africa?
Universal basic income (UBI) is the concept of a government program in which every adult citizen receives a set amount of money regularly.
I believe Africa, especially Nigeria can practice Universal basic income and this is because of the income and revenue generated from our natural resources. The aim of universal basic income is to alleviate poverty and replace it with other programs that require the involvement of bureaucratic government. So far, there are programs set in places that involve millions of dollars and this has not in any way affected the country's bag. One of these programmes is the NYSC(National Youth Service Corp) where millions and billions are spent yearly.
Nigeria, though has crude oil as their major source of income, has other sectors where money still flows in on a daily basis. So if my country decides to practice this system, it will in no way cripple the financial strength of the country.
BUT WILL THIS SYSTEM BE SUSTAINABLE?
---NO.
We can never have a universal basic income, even if we do, it wouldn't be sustainable and this is because of the government itself, which is greedy and full of corruption. Some major problems that can hinder the implementation of such a program is our division, tribe, greed, corruption, and dishonesty from even the grassroot.
Since fame and money began to intoxicate the human heart, people had only thought of themselves. The poor which the program hopes to alleviate are now the tool used by the government to feed their greedy belly and their aim has only been targeted on making more money. The system of financial flow is also faulty, each layer feeding their greed and leaving the poor empty. Since the foundation of the system is faulty, implementing a universal basic income wouldn't stand and may never work, especially in a country like Nigeria where the government only thinks of themselves.