Politics, Policy, and Change in Nigeria Essay

Volumes oblige been written on the beat of politics, policy, and cordial salmagundi. In this section, I provide project nonhing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and universal sense. I forget emphasize the important roles of leadinghip and group cohesiveness to effect inter channelise. Because the direction of change in a indian lodge depends on the port in which resources argon mobilized by the attractor, and the attitude of the nation toward change. The ruler must be concerned with the inevitably of the ruled, and must strive to gain their backing. But with long-standing heathen prejudice in a multi-ethnic participation such as Nigeria, this has non been very easy.The construct of politics is diverse. Aristotle and Plato specify politics as a concern with general issues affecting the whole community. This subscribe tos the hunt of the habitual involution, the operation of the res exoterica, and the formulation and execution of customary polic y. Contrasting creation concern with esoteric matters, they viewed the public concern as mor exclusivelyy superior. Thus, policy-making leading deem the responsibility to conform to constructive ideas and actions with everlasting(a) fullness (Andrain 1975, pp.12-20).In addition, It is the art or knowledge concerned with winning and holding control individually over a government. It involves competition between mingled interest groups (parties) or individuals for power and leadinghip in a government or other group. The winning fellowship guides or stoops policies, and the distri besidesion of resources in that polity (Dike (forthcoming) magisterial 1999). In other words, politics does involve the shin for power and wealth that is, the carrefourion, distribution, and use of scarce resources. Historically, some(prenominal)(prenominal) leaders own sought the rough-cut sizeable and others a private good. But with break through the politics of honor (that is, doin g what is right), a leader may non consume about the necessary changes that would benefit the general public. How does unmatched differentiate actions that atomic number 18 for common from those that be for private? The set up of a particular policy good argon the determining instruments.The fulfil of making and implementing decisions involves cooperation and competition, twain of which may lead to societal change. As legion(predicate) writers befool noted, m whatsoever factors are involved in social change no single factor deed over the gate adequately account for it (Lauer 1982, p. 37). And as a fraternity, our strikes quarter be fulfilled all through the cooperative efforts of every unrivalled. transmute or social change is defined as significant diversity of social structures. And social structures here mean the patterns of social action and interaction, which include norms, values, and heathenish phenomena (Moore 1967, p.3). Others buzz off defined ch ange as variations or modifications in any aspect of social process, pattern, or form it is to a fault any modification in established patterns of inter- charitable relationships and measuring sticks of conducts (Fairchild, ed. 1955, p.277, as cited in Lauer 1982, p.4).As we cast off seen, change can start anywhere. In fact every establishment is to some extent altered by changes in any of its parts. Given our leaders penchant for subversion, Nigerians are cautiously optimistic about the positive changes that are presently taking place in Nigeria. And since what has been on the minds of the world is that Nigeria is bad, we suffer to get our act together. later that we can say to the world, You held me in contempt, now see to it at me. Am I so pitiable? (Allport 1979).Can the present political leadership watch over the tempo of positive social re-engineering going on in the nation? For any intended change to occur in a society the population must be convinced by the leaders that such a change is both feasible and desirable. Hence the need for systematic set of political theory that reflects the feasibility and desirability of particular change. Ideology interprets the past, hold meaningful the present, and portray an ideal early.Lack of political ideology is a serious conundrum in Nigerian politics. Strangely, some politicians are known to have discounted the importance of ideology in politics. And since some of them are not committed to politics or nation ideologically, they tend to waffle on issues. Consequently, nobody is held answerable for any policy failure in the society. For our politicians to behave, we should gizmo means to hold them responsible for their actions or in-actions.In an better and politically mature society the voter turnout is the ultimate weapon of the batch. But we must positively change our personal attitudes to be able to change the social structure. For in part, at least, the structure is the product of the atti tudes of many single people (Allport 1979, p.507). Why is good value and virtue essential for the survival of the fittest of a polity such as Nigeria? Can a leader successfully govern a vivacious society without an ideological compass?Policies and decisions constitute a crucial part of political leadership. Usually when the volume of a population refuse to accept authoritative policies as binding, this would move committed leaders to read changes in the various parts of the system the case of the policies, the ruling personnel, the governing structures, or even the society over which the policies have jurisdiction. This is a democratic process that Nigeria should strive to adopt, if it needs to extend as a democratic nation. In a democracy on that point is no room for arbitrariness. Policies must be debated, and thoroughly too before implementation. To underscore the feelings of many well-meant Nigerians, we cannot afford to fail this time around.Policy represents a set of decisions taken in response to special(prenominal) problem. Some good examples are the upstart actions of chairwoman Obasanjo the setting up of a control panel to essay the human rights abuses since 1993 to probe abandoned projects since the mid-1970s the landmark of the contracts and the major appointments made by the Abubakar armed services regime. evaluator Chukwudifu Oputa is the chairman of the human rights panel, while Alhaji Iguda Inuwa is the chairman of the direction on abandoned projects. Lets not neglect the present favorable and inviting period in Nigeria. or else of gazing at each other with untrusting or doubtful curiosity, lets compound and expose those who have dragged us to the mud.The elegant rights panel go out identify the persons involved in the various abuses, the nature of the abuses, and the policy responsible. It entrust also urge on measures to ameliorate the problems and formulate strategies to forestall incidence of human rights abuses in t he society in future. All these policy actions have drawn praises from within and out of doors Nigeria. However, all these probes result not have the desired effects if their recommendations are not implemented. Legal action, proper reparation, and word picture in the press may be the bust ways to curb decomposition, and moderate social discontent. mayhap nothing frightens politicians more than chastisement in the press. cullric chair Obasanjos boldest policy decision so farthest has been the retirement of 149 political-senior soldiery and police officers an apparent ptyalize of those who participated in the autocratic and atrocious regimes of commons Babangida and Abacha. His spoke person, Doyin Okupe, was quoted as saying that In future, all officers of our armed forces must recognize that the ultimate reward for participating or benefiting from coups will be premature or laboured retirement from service in the tokenish (Cindy Shiner, June 16, 1999).Nevertheless, I wo uld recommend death sentence as the minimum punishment for benefiting or participating in military coups in future, and for the politicians who should conspire with other government officials to plunder the field of study treasury. There should be no dedicated cows here. Any person found wrong after a due process should be given the conveyd punishment. The consistency and performability of this consequence will ensure discipline and professionalism in the Armed Forces. It will also guard against the excesses of our noncombatant politicians many of whom are in office to acquire wealth illegally, and not to serve the public. In particular, this will ensure the survival of democracy, and an antidote to flubion in Nigeria. For the actions to be legitimate, the coitus should haste and insert the admit provisions in our constitution.Corruption is widely known as the nemesis of Nigeria. This construct, corruption, has been defined as a behavior which deviates from the buckram d uties of a public role because of private gains regarding (personal, close family, private clique cohorts, pecuniary or berth gains or violates rules against the exercise of certain types of duties for private gains regarding influence (Nye 1967, p.419). In fact, many writers have noted that it is standardisedly the only viable industry in the society (Dike, forthcoming, opulent 1999). This covers grand corruption, at senior levels, and niggling corruption, when junior officials take facilitation payments. The abysmal failure of military rule and our previous civilian administrations is associated with huge corruption in the state and the economy. Like other problems in the society, this essay cannot fully address the problem of corruption because of its limited focus.As Kofo Awosika pointed out in his recent piece A hot seats responsibilities community are poor because they are being denied plan of attack to opportunities. good deal steal because they are hungry and des titute. People are hungry and destitute because they cannot earn salarys. They have no w elds because they have no work. They have no work because they have been retrenched. They have been retrenched because industries cannot cope with their wage bills. Industries can not cope with their wage bills because production be have increased. Production costs have increased because our infrastructures have died. The infrastructures have died because the notes meant for their upgrading, repairs, maintenance and installations of others meant for the common good end (up) in private pockets (The Guardian, June 17, 1999). chairperson Olusegun Obasanjo must not go bad at his first salvo. The peoples zeal and interest in the administration should not be allowed to die down. He should establish a meeting place for people to voice out dissent on controversial issues in the society, and procedures under which ordinary citizens can sue for any infringement on their civil rights. More important ly, a general public arena reform is apropos. Reform here refers to large-scale and all-round(prenominal) change in the role, structure, values, staffing, or size of the public sector. This should also involve privatizing our ill- get outd government corporations, and contracting out services in the domain of inefficient and corrupt corporations to the private sector for greater efficiency and accountability. transnational blueprint in the process could be adopted, but it should be adjusted to meet local conditions.The spit out for survivalAs psychology has noted, to redouble ones efforts is a healthy response to an obstacle. For Nigeria to exist as a nation, we have to remain lively and intensify our efforts in areas of deficiency. And our value-violators should be punished. In addition, our shun frame of references (e.g. the advance fee fraud 419) that are anchored in our social environment should be dismantled. We should be realistic in our struggle for survival, because the world is watching.President Obasanjo should wage war on ethnicity and nepotism, which are unfriendly to the unity of this great nation. This does not mean that groups would not retain their identity and work for their progress. But this should not be carried out in a modality that would undermine the unity and stability of the nation. And in future politicians who are pandering to ethnic interests should be rejected at the polling boot. It is overbearing that Nigeria is re-structured into a mobile society a nation where one could live in any state of his choice, dependable study at the state and local levels without limitations, and participate meaningfully in the affairs of the community of his abode (see Umez June 11, 1999).And hard work, good skills and news should be rewarded strictly on merits, without regard to ethnicity and religion. This will financial aid to tame the dangerous trend of brain-drain in the nation. It will also motivate people to give their undivided loyalty to the central government. At last, this will mean unity and the establishment of a common identity for Nigeria. But given Nigerias cultural diversity, this may not be an easy undertaking.Instead of setting up broadcasts to encourage national unity, our leaders are dismantling or weakening the some programs that are in place. For instance, the recent reduction of the age group for prospective youth service members from 30 years to 25 years by widely distributed Abubakar is a step toward scrapping the program. The National Youth serve Corps program was designed by General Yakubu Gowon after the civil war to foster national integration and reconciliation (The Post Express, June 11, 1999). One problem with our leaders is policy instability. We need more programs like the NYSC to facilitate and encourage inter-cultural interaction in the nation. President Obasanjo and his civilian administration should not allow this program to die. However, the program could be redesigned i f it has not been achieving its purpose.The problem of underground cults or youth gangs in our tertiary institutions is a serious threat to the survival of Nigeria. Our universities have been turned into killing fields, instead of places of learning. The most recent hap was the killing of the principal assistant registrar at the Delta State University, Abraka (The Guardian of June 13, 1999). The congress should institute appropriate and enforceable laws against cult activities on university campuses.It is recognized that in that respect are laws around to this effect. But these laws have every not been enforced, or they have not been effective. unenforceable laws are only good on the book. The leader who can only give ensnares but cannot enforce them is not a leader by the standard of many societies. And to restore quality reading in our educational institutions, the Congress and Prof. Tunde Adeniran (the recently appointed education minister), should increase funding for educ ation and institute policies that will improve the low moral and motivation of professors and the support staff.Sound economic policies should also be instituted to qualify the nations mono-product economy. The diversification of the economy would help reduce Nigerias dependence on the outside world for her basic needs (food, etc), and lend believability to claims that the surface area could someday join the ranks of superpowers. In particular, it will create employment for our burgeoning population. Among other measures to stimulate employment in the society is to give aid to state and local governments and accelerate public works. Our social problems (poverty, diseases, illiteracy, prostitution, crime, etc), are in one way or other related to the sour state of the economy.These things can all be done with proper leadership in Abuja. Economic development or growth (increase in an economys capacity to generate more goods and services) requires changes in human skills, attitudes, values and people have to be formally educated construct an economic infrastructure basic transportation, communication, irrigation, and other power facilities maximize agricultural productivity increase capital accumulation that is, tangible physical goods that will serve as means of production. These include machinery, technological innovations, buildings and equipment (Andrain 1975, pp.284-288).Therefore to survive, we need a strong ethic to save and invest, not simply to consume to develop sophisticated skills, with an educated and a highly motivated work force. As John Stuart Mill has said What a country destinys to make it richer is never consumption, but production. Where there is the latter, we may be sure that there is no want of the former(Mill, as cited in Bartlett 1981, pp.1-2). A democratic political system seems best conform to to achieve this.Nigeria has been doing poorly in these areas, despite her ample oil wealth. For our economic revival efforts to be suc cessful, the civilian administration should axe those corrupt and inefficient managers of our public utilities and facilities NEPA, NNPC, NIPOST, NITEL, the Refineries, the Ports, and other establishments that are the hub of our economy. How does one justify the payment of monthly salaries to the executives of these corporations that are not performing? No serious society can afford to do that. The salaries of our executives should be tied to their productivity that is, the effectiveness of their policies.It is imperative to understand that the underdevelopment of a country is the result of its inferior value system and economic structure (Chirot 1977, pp.2-3). It is evenly important to understand that the key social forces that have fostered democracy in the United States and other static democratic nations are not yet in Nigeria. Our deficiencies are many but we must have to give democracy a chance to survive in the society. For this, the present socioeconomic re-structuring in Nigeria should be pursued with speed and sincerity.SummaryLeadership fealty is essential to the survival and progress of Nigeria. The people have an important role to play too. But the peoples commitment would be difficult to secure if the leaders who are calling on them for devote do not themselves make any sacrifices. To cast out corruption in the country, Nigerians should always elect or appoint people of probity to manage the affairs of the nation. This group must analyze each situation in the society critically, in order to determine appropriate target of change, who should be involve in the effort, and what method will most possible lead to the desired outcome.The majority of Nigerians are sprightly with the initial policy actions of the civilian administration. Nevertheless, we should keep an shoots eye on the legislature, because some of them are corrupt. Nigeria still lives in the score of the future. The way our history will be written depends upon the extent to which and the mood in which we leaders and the people strive to make our future. There is a lot of unknown in the society. But since we cannot foresee what the remote future has in store for us, we can only hope for a better tomorrow. 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(1967) The Rise and gloam of Kwame Nkrumah. London Pall Mall Press. Chirot, Daniel (1977) Social Change in the Twentieth Cenry Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., New York, pp.2-3. Dike, Enwere (1990) Nigeria The Political Economy of Buhari Regime, Nigeria Journal Of International Affairs, Vol. 16, No.2, pp.94-95. Dike, Victor (Forthcoming, August 1999) Leadership, Democracy, and the Nigerian Economy Lessons from the Past and Directions for the Future.(Forthcoming) August 1999.