ECONOMY: THE FLOODGATES HAVE BEEN BREACHED
INTRO:
Last week, this column republished ‘Emefiele and the Inherited ‘Curse’ Of Surplus Naira’ written by the Late Sir Henry in interview style format to provide a clear understanding of some of Nigeria’s long-standing issues. It discusses the exchange rate, inflation, fuel prices, and CBN’s role in the downward spiral. All republications can be found in the archives using the below link.
(See www.betternaijanow.com for this series and more articles by the Late Sir Henry Boyo)
This week’s republication titled ‘Economy: The Floodgates Have Been Breached’ was first published in June 2016 taking us back to 1986 where the serial devaluation of the Naira affected the economy and the people tremendously. This article brings to light the repetitive cycle that Nigeria finds itself in. The present regime after the inauguration, on the 29th of May, 2023, officially announced the devaluation of the Naira, which has brought about the same trend and effect that harshly affects the economy. Note in this case, the Naira valuation is now dependent on I/E window of trade ironically.
As you read through the below article taking note of previous events and rates, keep in mind its first republication (2014), a clear indication that Nigeria’s economic situation is yet to improve.
The CBN’s decision to float the Naira in response to dollar demand and supply, in such austere times, will probably be ultimately remembered as another policy shift that breached the gates and unleashed devastating floods that swept away any flickering hope of economic diversification or credible inclusive growth. The serial devaluations dictated by the 1986 Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) was another such event that disenabled our economy, traumatized our people and challenged our traditional value system in many ways.
It is undeniable that with SAP, Nigeria’s erstwhile, vibrant industrial landscape soon became eclipsed by the rapid closure of bustling industrial estates, as sharp increases in the cost of vital machinery/raw materials and the prevailing high cost of funds pushed investors to the brink. Eventually, the carcasses of their factories were, inherited years later, by Faith establishments who were conversely witnessing rapid expansion in followership, some say, because of the overwhelming economic and social challenges.
Sadly, the fervent prayers from these Houses of worship have obviously not been directed to bringing about a positive turn around in our economy. Curiously, however, the IMF and reputable international and local experts had actually encouraged the belief that our economy will be enriched if we embraced SAP! Regrettably, thirty years later, we seem to have come full cycle and the same IMF and acclaimed financial powerhouses have again commended our government for swallowing the bitter pill of 50percent Naira devaluation, which they, as usual, claim to be the strategic path to economic recovery.
Ironically, President Buhari who stoutly resisted devaluation between 1983-1985, and later also made Naira exchange rate parity, a campaign promise in 2015, has unexpectedly capitulated to the odious demand for more Naira devaluation, despite the contrary historical evidence of the unfulfilled expectations for a benevolent impact of this policy. President Buhari’s volte face is intriguing, particularly after his public admission that his Economic experts always talked above his head and never truly convinced him that devaluation would favor our economy.
In retrospect, our social values became misaligned with the implementation of SAP, as all income values were grossly eroded, and the dignity of pension earners also became seriously abused, while thousands of professionals took flight abroad to greener pastures. Invariably, more Nigerian youths will still be propelled to join the desert caravan to North Africa en route Europe, choralled in suicidal bath tubs, as job opportunities, which offer reasonable living wages remain in short supply locally, and the devastating impact of the present 50percent Naira devaluation paralyses industries and businesses.
Indeed, the only immediate apparent advantage of the present devaluation is the “vanishing” advantage (because of spiraling inflation) of increase in government revenue, from the extra N100 that will be printed for each additional dollar earned from crude oil, notwithstanding the inflationary impact of such monetary expansion in a market where surplus Naira is already an existing challenge to CBN. Nonetheless, the expected revenue shortfall caused by the present lower crude prices, should be significantly compensated by the 50percent increase in Naira allocations from each dollar shared by government. In effect, this cash bounty should significantly reduce or possibly eliminate the 2016 over N2Tn budget deficit. However, the additional cash bounty may still not discourage government from processing and spending the N900bn domestic loan already budgeted, to partly fund the same deficit; in other words, the subsequent revenue excess created by devaluation, may still be shared in addition to the proceeds from budgeted loans by government, without enacting a fresh supplementary Appropriation bill to account for this expenditure.
Incidentally, in order to restrain inflation, fuelled by the compounded expenditure, the CBN, may ironically be propelled to increase its debt holdings by borrowing and sterilizing part of the Naira surplus. Ultimately, the commercial banks, specifically, will earn close to N500bn annually from the high interest paid by CBN to remove such excess funds from the market.
Indeed, this fiscal rascality has prevailed since our return to civil rule, when revenue expectations were regularly deliberately understated, with inappropriately low crude oil price benchmarks, to contrive unrealistic budget deficits, which were subsequently approved as public debt, despite the suspiciously high double digit interest rates, which are clearly inappropriate for such sovereign loans. Indeed, if more realistic crude benchmarks had predicated the same budgets, such oppressive, additional government loans would be happily avoided; worse still, this culture of fiscal irresponsibility is instead, further magnified with additional disbursements, usually without appropriate prior legislative endorsement, from the excess revenue consolidated from actual higher than budget benchmark oil prices.
Hereafter, we will assess the direct impact of the present 50percent Naira devaluation on critical factors such as inflation, productivity, employment and public confidence in holding the Naira as a store of value.
Inexplicably, the additional government revenue from naira devaluation, would ultimately provide little succor for the economy, as it will further fuel inflation and reduce purchasing power of incomes and consumer demand. Furthermore, since local industries are still also largely dependent on raw material imports, all import bills will invariably also rise by about 50percent if N300=$1, as speculated. Furthermore, the industrial sector’s already disenabling production cost burden, will unfortunately, become compounded with another 50percent price increase for diesel and gas required to power their plants. Worse still, with almost 20percent inflation rate and increasing production cost, the bloated working capital, consequently required to sustain businesses will unfortunately also attract over 20percent interest rates to ultimately make Nigeria’s industrial output less competitive against import substitutes.
In addition, agitations for wage increase will also become strident to further threaten businesses. The predictable outcome would be serial retrenchments and business closures, with serious implications for our economic and social security, while Faith organizations, may again become beneficiaries of increasingly vacant factory/warehouse spaces. Nonetheless, with the present Naira devaluation, retirement will also become a nightmare for wage earners whose pension contributions, will depreciate by more than 50percent; sadly, pension earners may become near destitudes if inflation exceeds the current 16percent, especially if petrol sells for N300/litre and electricity tariff inevitably also spikes by over 50percent, because of this devaluation.
Furthermore, investment values in the stock market will depreciate from over $45bn when N200=$1 to less than $25bn with N300=$ exchange rate. Indeed, the value of our houses and all Naira denominated assets, including the cash in your pocket and savings accounts have all now lost up to 50percent of the previous dollar value, while the oppressive burden of paying outstanding import bills, and other dollar denominated loans may send these debtors to an early grave. Frankly speaking, our collective net worth and the value of all Naira denominated assets have now been cut in half, with just a stroke of the pen, but it is unlikely that the speculated inflow of foreign exchange, from portfolio investors will ever approach $20b as a result of this devaluation
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However, since the CBN’s devaluation policy is fixated on dollar demand and supply, and obviously denies the pivotal role of systemic Naira surplus, as the prime cause of devaluation, further Naira devaluation will become inevitable, and the economy will sadly unravel. Clearly, if the surplus Naira syndrome remains untamed, a Naira exchange rate beyond N500-$1 will be possible this year. Incidentally, with the present Naira rate, the N1, 000 currency note which is our highest denomination is now worth just over $3. Surely, the Naira will never command public confidence as a safe store of value and will continue to slide, so long as CBN continues to auction dollar for higher Naira bids, in a market with excess Naira supply.
Save the Naira, Save Nigerians!!
