BY OJIGBE SOLOMON

The fact that the second tier government otherwise known as the state government owes its workers is no longer news. This is given that several states across the Nigerian state are enmeshed in these stupendous acts of perjury. As at last count states like Osun,Benue,Plateau ,Abia ,Oyo,Rivers and Cross river owe their workforce some between the tune of 2-7 months as the case maybe. These has succeeded in institutionalizing the culture of perjury among workers which does not speak well of our fledging economy.
What is however, most alarming on these issue is that the suppose states governors owing workers still lives in affluence and exhibit financial recklessness at its peak. Some if not all in all states of the federation, have by act of omission or commission chosen to be docile/redundant. They let the abundant mineral resources in their respective state lay low and untapped and would rather buy into the ideal of turning themselves into an “alamajiri “of some sort to the federal government by coming to Abuja every month cap in hand with their begging bowl the commissioners of finance of their respective state to collect their share from the federation account. These do not help productivity in state.
Similarly the state governors largely prefer to preoccupy themselves with political patronizes: praise singers, bootlickers alike, expanding Huge resources on them probably to garner unnecessary political clout as against footing salaries allowances of civil servant in their state .
Other prime factors that can be adduced for these negative political culture ranges from gross corruption particularly in the oil and gas sector ,mono economy as well as over dependence on the federal government ,fall in the price of oil in the international market, ineffective internally generated revenue (IGR) mechanism, some fraught by fraud were it exist ;weak legislature, poor management of treasury ,self-aggrandizement among several others.
Persistence of these slowly of these malaise slowly but steady translate into decimated civil service populated by paupers some so chronic to the extent that they go begging .The decimation of the service further impede on staff productivity because at this stage monetization is at its lowest ebb. It further engenders inequality in development across the states of the federation particularly among the indebted state.
Invariably strike action/labour dispute, grudges to work and duty becomes the hallmark of state captured in these categories. To get out of this anguish state governors must see issues bordering on staff salaries and general welfare of its workforce as a priority and must be so treated. Similarly, state should be encouraged to look inward, invest in area of comparative strength may be based on their physical environment or mineral deposit and boost their economy in lieu.
All leakages within the value chain of governance that would aid and abet corruption must be blocked to free in more cash into government coffers while cubing the excess of political patronage to mitigate wastage. Institutionalization of a robust IGR system to argument federal allocation may also productive as these will enhance that cash are adequately mopped up within the system to aid the running of derivable from government.
Legislature as an arm of government must be strengthening across the states so as to be strategically positioned to carryout effective over sight on the executives. These way silent questions can be asked about the running of government business and elicit appropriates answers where tenable. Prudent management of state treasury and altruistic disposition by the governors remain a worthy panacea to get out of these jam.
It is hoped that if these measures are religiously adhere to the tendency of state government turning themselves to an “almagiris” would be checkmated, these indeed portrays a good omen for our economy.
Source:http://bnaijatalks..com/2015/06/state-governors-and-politics-of-salary.html