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Nigeria: The Way Forward
Hadiza Wada, DBA ...October 2, 2010
The 50 years of post independence governance of the nation has been celebrated. What exactly do we see as issues that have hindered the nation’s progress; and in what ways can we address them. Below are some of our observations:
Politics Not a Career: Ideally, Politics and political participation should not be a career. In countries where democracy has been practiced for more than a century, people who usually find themselves looking forward to contesting for positions either in the legislature or executive are those who come from other professional careers, e.g. Lawyers, community activists, professors, doctors. Others come from private companies, who have garnered years of managing monetary and human resources, who however feel that a need exists within government for the specialized skills that they have. Then they move into politics, pointing at problems they have observed and how they feel they can contribute in solving them.
Such people usually leave government service when they feel that the need has been met, or else when they have identified another avenue that they will be more productive in. At other times they just leave to less stressful life they will enjoy better. So, usually the prevailing circumstances determine for the politicians themselves who will likely succeed in seeking offices, e.g. in times of economic difficulties people may run based on their credible economic track records. Nigerian therefore should understand that fact, and get a professional and sustainable life outside of politics, which will make them less likely to insist on running for offices they either are not really qualified for, or yet still fight tooth a nail to remain in positions they have failed to be productive in.
Establish Your Businesses: (Invest in production or Services) In capitalistic market economy, the private sector thrives almost completely independent of governmental intrusion under democratic dispensation. Many Nigerians however, are yet to find ways of freeing themselves from dependence on government employment. Ideally every person should access his or her strength, find a business idea that appeals to him then go look for ways to make it a reality. Presently, even when people get some unexpected large income, they hardly see it as a chance to go on their own to make it grow. They would rather spend it unproductively, then go back, sometimes even to the same person who has made the initial opportunity possible for them to get another government contract.
Enterprising people find the products and services that the community needs, and provide it at a cost that will ensure profit enough to live on independently from the government. The only areas private enterprises rely on the government is (a) Economic policies; such as export and import policy and its impact on industrial as well as agricultural and mineral resources acquisition and utilization. (b) Provision of public facilities and amenities such as good access roads, railways, ports, and air services that will augment economic activities. Good roads to farming areas will for example ensure timely access, procurement and distribution of farm products to the markets and raw materials to the industries. Other than such areas, people should generally be independent to pursue private enterprise as far, and as hard as they can, making something out of it as well as giving the community the various services they need and deserve.
Presently, because of the lack of credible economic policies and conducive environment for private enterprise, many are forced to continue to rely on the government, even if for contracts in order for their companies to meet its obligations. The people are also not pushing enough to free themselves from dependence on the government for employment or income, so they can live productive and independent lives through private enterprise.
The Shortchanging Culture: Every person wants more value from others than what he is willing to give in return. It is amazing how people expect to be served in full when they have failed to pay adequately for what they want to receive. The culture of building shabby structures, meant to last decades, for example based on the amount allotted, but made weak with the strength that should not last more than five years is the norm today. Half strength medicine, as dangerous as that practice is; half baked education that turn out massive graduates that can hardly function in an increasingly literate world; hospitals that cannot provide even the most basic services, talk less of specialized ones etc.
All the above counterproductive actions have to be reversed immediately. It is not only immoral (religious arena) but unethical (professional arena). No country will make progress with that culture practiced as widely as it is today. The practice is made worse by the culture of bribery, which takes away from the total estimated cost for the contract on the one hand, and also corruption that takes further away from the rest of the money on the other. The two practices have to be halted. Press your contestants to tell you how they intend to root such practices out.
Finally, the nation will do itself a lot of good if it devises a way to harness the physical strength, skills and educational knowledge of its teeming youths most of whom are roaming around unemployed.
(c) The Optimist Voice. All Rights Reserved.
