Gorrilla - 7million, Monkey - 70 million, Snake - 36 million; How money should disappear?

Some people in public offices in Nigeria and most parts of Africa are tempted by the amount of money they come across each day, week, or months. They may ask - how best can I take this money since it does not belong to anyone? - if others are doing it, why not me? - is life not a risk? - what if I take it and blame an animal that can not speak for itself? and so on. This is the point where all great ideas of "how money should disappear?" comes.

I am not against the thought process, I am worried that it is misplaced. People could be so smart if they think; however, how many are thinking of not letting money disappear in offices. Assume the public officer ask in reverse - how best can I save or spend this money to benefit everyone? - If others are abusing public funds, why should I join them? - should life not be simple? - why take a risk to create hardship for people who contributed this money? - What if I take it and die the next day?

The Vanguard Online news Nigeria reported on the 13th of February, 2018 - how snake allegedly swallowed N36 million in JAMB office; on 21st February, 2018 - how monkey swallowed N70 million belonging to Northern senators forum; and on the 14th June, 2019 - how Gorrilla swallowed N 7 million in Kano zoo. This is not how money should disappear.

Money for those who understand it - is a means of exchange and does not have any value if not exchanged for something productive or support life. This is how we make ourselves poor by few people carrying papers in their pocket and exchanging it for things that are not productive. Example of things not productive include and not limited to keeping the papers or coin in your underground bunker, on the ceiling or even under your pillow or anywhere in your house for a long time. Using money for bribery is counter productive too. Money should provide either tangible benefits (goods: equipment, machines, software, infrastructure, books, etc.) or intangible benefits (services: good health care, hospitality, tourism, proper education, national ceremonies / cultural festivals etc.). Money is valuable when it benefits many.

Money should add social value which includes making people happy and reducing their suffering. when one public officer takes this huge money and "keeps in the belly of an animal", he prevents the creation of this social value and makes majority to suffer unnecessarily from low pay for hard work, and less money for buying their needs.

70 + 36 + 7 million could provide full or partial scholarship for over 126 million undergraduate students in Nigerian federal universities. Each with about N500,000 each to cover tuition and some living stipend. Now, imagine how many people are out of school because they cannot pay? or are suffering for inability to afford food in school.

When we start putting money in the right places, then we have succeeded in defining how money can create better well-being and not "disappear".

Dennis Mark Onuigbo, 15th June, 2019