• Guard your mental health, expert advises Nigerians
• Cleric tags hardship process of growth
A labour union, at the weekend in Ibadan, Oyo State, urged President Bola Tinubu to reverse the floating of the national currency and energy cost to lessen the hardship across the country.
To lessen the effect of the country’s tough decisions, a clinical psychologist, Dr Adedotun Ajiboye, has advised Nigerians to guard their mental health.
However, the founder of Agape Christian Ministries, Bishop Felix Adejumo, described the hardship in the country as a process of growth and development.
Calling on Nigerians to be patient with the Tinubu administration, the cleric said things would get better as they anchor their faith in God who turns things around.
The National Union of Shop and Distributive Employees (NUSDE) noted that Nigerians and businesses were experiencing very difficult times and that the Federal Government needed to address the issues urgently before they got out of hand.
President of NUSDE, Aminu Megbontowon, while addressing guests and members of the union at the 6th Quadrennial and 13th National Delegates Conference (NDC) of NUSDE in Ibadan, Oyo State, said, “Nigerian workers and businesses in the country were facing difficult times because of some of the policies implemented by the Tinubu government.
He said, “The cost of energy is provocatively high and this has affected production, service and workers’ welfare negatively. For instance, there is no justification for petroleum products to be over N1,000, considering that Nigeria is an oil and gas-producing country while the purchasing power of Nigerians remains very low. Electricity tariff is also very high. Electricity tariff that increased from N68 to N227 has also driven the cost of production, services and livelihood far beyond the reach of many Nigerians.
“Since the cost of production, services and living are rising much higher than the purchasing power of the vast majority, many Nigerians have been forced into poverty and even destitution. Many factories cannot sell their products, which led to the collapse of many companies with attendant job losses.”
NUSDE urged Tinubu to reduce energy costs by ending all anti-people policies of deregulation and hikes in petroleum products and electricity tariffs.
“We also call on the President to end the devaluation and floating of the naira to enable imported goods and raw materials to be affordable. We do not see any benefit derivable from naira devaluation when the country is largely an import-dependent economy,” he added.
AJIBOYE, who works with the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado- Ekiti advised in a chat with newsmen in Abuja, yesterday.
He said the economic hardship could significantly affect mental health, and increase stress, anxiety and depression.
The psychologist, however, said it was important for people to recognise the impact of economic hardship on their mental health.
According to him, economic hardship can lead to emotional turmoil, which can cause anxiety, depression, irritability and mood swings.
He proffered some strategies for maintaining good mental health during economic hardship, which include practising self-care, mindfulness and relaxation.
“Acknowledge your emotions, and ensure you avoid denial or suppression of your emotions. Also, express yourself in a journal, talk to trusted friends/family members or engage in creative activities.
ADEJUMO, while fielding questions from journalists during the 30th anniversary of Agape Christian Ministries, Iyana Ejigbo, Lagos, yesterday, was optimistic about Nigeria’s future, adding that whatever Nigerians were going through now is not strange.
The cleric stated, “It may be harsh on us, and everybody is complaining, but I can tell you that there is still light at the end of the tunnel. We are close to the end of the tunnel. For me, Israel was in captivity for 430 years in Egypt and God still liberated and delivered them. All of us should have faith in God who can turn things around.”
On the vision and future of the church, Adejumo noted that Christ’s mandate for the church was to preach the gospel and win souls for the kingdom of God.
