By Toyin Falola
Wetin Musa no go see for gate!
The true hallmark of a successful government is not limited to the grand policies it drafts or the eloquent promises made during election campaigns. Sure, those look great on paper (and even better on billboards), but the objective measure of success lies in its priorities. A government’s focus reveals its true objectives—actions speak louder than manifestos. It would be ironic if a government claims to prioritize poverty alleviation and tackling unemployment yet spends lavishly on refurbishing official residences and upgrading motorcades.
If people struggle to make ends meet, should the most significant concern be the thread count of government office curtains or the latest model of bulletproof SUVs? Priorities matter, and they tell the real story—far more than well-crafted political speeches ever could. This is the current reality for Nigerians, as we have witnessed countless government policies that seem to embody misplaced priorities.
The paradoxical part? The people are not expecting the government to wave a magic wand and instantly transform the nation. We understand that actual progress and development take years of consistent efforts. However, the foundation of that progress lies in how policies are designed and implemented. When priorities are misaligned, even the best intentions fall flat. The question is not whether change can happen overnight—it is whether the steps being taken today are leading us in the right direction.
Yet again, we witness another striking example of misplaced priorities—the proliferation of mass weddings. This initiative is designed to sponsor hundreds of individuals as they tie the knots with their beloved, courtesy of state funds. The concept is not new. Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, who ran for president and was Kano State Governor, introduced this scheme during his eight-year leadership period. A decade removed from state office because of his troubled relationship with former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje ended with Kwankwaso in the spotlight for attending a large mass wedding of 1,800 couples in 2023. The government under Abba Yusuf organized this expensive event, which cost 854 million naira, leading to serious concerns about governance and public service priorities. Much of the public media viewed this as nothing more than electioneering—a strategic move by Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso to win public favour through the platform of Abba Yusuf, support he undoubtedly needed as he set his sights on leading the country.
The current administration has reintroduced mass weddings into its budget and secured legislative backing, with the Kano State House of Assembly officially signing it into law. This year, the program is set to cost a staggering 2.5 billion naira. What is the rationale behind this initiative? To the propaganda machine, it is to curb indecency, reduce the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, and lower the rate of extramarital pregnancies in Kano. The state government has declared it would galvanize efforts to improve human capital. If, by this new definition, human capital development now translates to mass weddings and an increased birth rate in the state, then the government is undoubtedly on track and appears to have found the perfect compass to navigate such endeavours. Bravo!
The government’s intention may be well-founded in its logic, but the approach leaves much to be desired. When viewed from a broader perspective, mass weddings inevitably lead to mass childbirths and larger families. The critical question then arises: how will these families be sustained? Many beneficiaries of this initiative are already struggling financially. Adding more mouths to feed without a transparent economic support system further deepens their poverty. While the government has provided stipends to prospective brides to start small-scale businesses, the reality is that these funds are meagre and unsustainable in the long run.
The Kebbi State government has now joined the trend, announcing its plan to sponsor mass weddings for 300 couples, a venture that will cost the state 54 million naira—excluding the additional expenses for free laboratory tests covering pregnancy, genotype, and infectious diseases for the prospective couples. Scheduled for February 27, 2025, this mass wedding is far from a one-time event. Similar ceremonies have been held in Kebbi before, and the incumbent governor, Nasir Idris, has vowed to keep it as a recurring program under his administration. Like the Kano State government, Kebbi’s administration has not left the couples empty-handed, providing foodstuffs and furniture to help them settle into their new lives.
But here is the real puzzle: how does the government expect that a few handouts will ensure these families’ long-term survival and stability? Marriage is a lifelong commitment, not a single-day event. Imagining a few bags of rice and a new couch as a sustainable economic plan is pretty brain-peeling.
This is hardly the right strategy for fostering human capital development. Actual progress lies not in ceremonial gestures but in establishing systems that create real, long-term opportunities that empower individuals to lift themselves out of poverty rather than be trapped in a cycle of dependence. It is evident that while these governments may have well-intended goals to attain short-term political applause, their actions risk becoming a harbinger of deeper poverty in the state. If history has taught us anything, economic hardship often breeds social unrest. We may soon witness a surge in prostitution and other social vices—not as a moral failing but as a desperate response to survival.
The bitter truth is that desperation thrives where hunger persists. A hungry man is, undeniably, a desperate man. When these newly formed families cannot meet their basic needs, many will be forced into disdainful acts just to get by. Ironically, the initiatives to curb these societal issues offer only temporary relief. The existing economic framework fails to support these temporary solutions, which will bring about severe social deterioration due to the country’s critical economic situation.
Struggling citizens need economic support from government-led structural development instead of marriage prioritization. Nothing stops the government from redirecting these resources toward skill acquisition programs or agricultural investments, which would offer long-term benefits. Agriculture remains one of the most lucrative industries in Northern Nigeria . Rather than funding mass weddings, the government could have established an agricultural relief fund to boost farming activities, providing a sustainable source of income for countless individuals and families. With economic stability in place, those who genuinely desire marriage could take that step on their terms, knowing they can provide for their families. After all, marriage is not just about the wedding day but the lifelong commitment to sustenance, security, and stability.
As long as the government continues prioritising trivial matters and temporary fixes instead of addressing the root causes of our challenges, the country will remain trapped in this deplorable state as a nation. We need authentic leadership that makes better decisions and follows through on its promises. Manifestos should not be mere campaign anthems; they should serve as actionable blueprints for governance.
At sixty-four years of independence, a nation should have a clear sense of direction, with well-established structures to preserve and actualize its priorities. Yet, Nigeria still operates as though it is in the nascent stages of self-governance, a reality that speaks volumes of stagnation rather than progress. The government owes the people more—and it can do more. We need structured, strategic agendas that tackle the real issues, drive sustainable development, and create meaningful progress. The future of the nation depends on it.
What is needed is the mass recapitalization of poor citizens and not mass weddings to produce mass children without great futures.
