Governance Should Be for Common Good

The objective of good governance is to serve the citizenry, no matter their stations in life. The goal of government is to create an enabling environment within which everyone can realise their God-given potential. The readiness to serve for the common good not for a few or those that belong to one’s own party or ethnic group, is the fundamental basis for socio-economic and political development of any nation. We tend to miss these basic goals as the reasons why we are elected into office. And in as much as we continue to be caught in the quagmire of ineptitude, lack of vision and transparency or accountability, the road to development and service in the name of the people will continue to be rugged and impossible.

Fifty -seven years removed from independence without a viable long term policy vision to redesign our educational goals, in a manner that is Nigerian centred, is a travesty. Lack of an economic development policy (short or long term) to address the limitations of our economy with a view to projecting a vision for the future generation remains an impediment towards national unity and stability. The lack of basic infrastructure and establishment of an independent and sustainable ethics and policy review machinery, continue to be an obstacle to building a Nigerian for all and by all.

What inspires anyone in a country where its leadership lacks accountability, where institutions and laws are manipulated to serve the interest of just a given few? What challenges an average citizen in a country where the few and their wards are able to afford unlimited riches and acquire riches, without any reasonable explanation as to how? What inspires anybody where they may toil to send their wards to school and there is no opportunity for them to realise their God-given potential? What motivates one’s loyalty to a nation, where pensioners could barely survive and remain unpaid until they pass on with no one caring about them? How can anybody dream big in a country where, basic medical infrastructure are non-existent, to the point where people die of preventable illnesses that have been eradicated in many countries for decades but still claim lives of people, as if we are in the 18th Century? Of what value is a government, unable to pay for services rendered and yet governors are applauded for paying salaries? There is absolutely nothing upon which to base our loyalty to such a nation.

The mere presence of all these conditions is an indication of the ineptitude of our leadership. They shun competence and promote mediocrity so that they can continue to hold on to power. They seek power so that they can relish in the trappings that come with positions. It is a shame that our institutions are bastardised in the name of self-promotion and holding on to power. The ability of the people to make effective decision on election day is compromised because of the level of poverty, where a mere N1000 is enough to make one sacrifice the future of one’s own ward.

We should all lament and be ashamed, because we have all contributed at one point or the other, to the on-going malaise that hold our people back, and cripples our nation, and allows corruption and untold abuse of our democratic experiment. The question is, what next? It is time to demand from the leadership, a sense of purpose and commitment to promoting the well- being of all. We should demand accountability and transparency at all levels of government and in all institutions. Local communities should ask questions about sudden riches and abuse of political offices. Elected position should require a demonstrated service; it should not be a means to acquisition of wealth. In this instance, the remunerations of elected officials and their benefits should be reduced drastically by more than 50 per cent at all levels. Accountability should be enforced through independent institutions that allow special courts to render judgement while applying the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. People appointed to positions, such as ministers, should have real life experience and training to serve effectively in the positions they are appointed to. Expenditure on government appointments should be controlled and reduced. And critical institutions in the society, such as the police, security, universities, other educational institutions, and medical facilities should be funded adequately.

We need constitutional amendment to remove the immunity clause for the executives at the state and federal levels. We need effective separation of powers and real independence of the judiciary. Our country needs everybody to be engaged in nation building. We cannot afford a situation whereby a party in power fails to tap into all and maximise all the resources that could be beneficial to the development of our great nation. It is time to let our elected representatives know that the country, the state and, in fact, the entire nation belong to every one of us. It is not a regional, zonal, state, senatorial or ethnic issue; it is a national and Nigerian issue.

We must demand that our government invest in the provision of affordable healthcare for our people. Instead of spending resources on exotic cars and security vote, it is time to invest in our people. We need state of the art medical facilities in all the federal constituencies in the country. Equipped and adequately funded. Local government should be mandated to make roads, potable water supply, local security, public health and food production a priority. It is the responsibility of government agencies to provide adequate information on life saving health instructions to the population. It is the responsibility of our government to make our education, values, and mores a source of pride and springboard for socio-political and economic development. Let the next generation take pride in our values and read more about Nigerian cultures. Make learning of our languages and culture should be a priority in all institutions and at all levels. Employment opportunities and training should be a priority for all levels of government. Investing in our people is central to the development of this great nation. Government should make life easier for its citizenry and cannot keep asking the people to constantly bear the brunt of hardship. From austerity measures to new policies now being implemented on the suggestions of those who lack the capacity to appreciate what ordinary Nigerians are going through, the leadership is preparing a recipe for the collapse of the public trust in our government. If your elected officials and their children are living a luxury life when you can hardly survive from day to day, it is time to ask them to go. No amount of, “I am with you” or “I feel your pain”, should be enough. We need action. We need policies to effect the required change. Let us take control of our destiny, let us stop the cycles of corruption, oppression and exploitation. If leaders cannot govern well and serve the interest of its constituents, it is time to vote them out of power. It is the power of a democratic government. That is governance at its best.

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