In the news yesterday I heard that the national chairman of ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Universities) is calling on the Buhari-led federal government to implement a socialist system in Nigeria. While I choose to believe that such a call is with the best of intentions, I disagree with the professor on the appropriateness of a socialist system for Nigeria.
For sure, the socialist economic system has its numerous merits. But the merits of private property regime outweigh those of socialism. To avoid making this article too long and boring, let me not go into the merits and demerits of capitalism of socialism here (I am sure we already know them very well). The point I will rather like to make here is that, calling for a change of economic system in Nigeria now is a misplacement of priority. At this time we should rather be pushing for the practice of ideal federalism, and reduction in the cost of governance. The bases of Nigeria’s myriad of problems are – WRONG MODE OF STATE COMPOSITION (FAKE SOCIAL CONTRACT), and STEEP COST OF GOVERNANCE. Let me dwell on the latter. The high cost of governance especially the outrageous monetary/material reward for political service is what has been killing Nigeria. The too much money in public offices is what has been majorly responsible for a tiny percentage of our population swimming in stupendous wealth and affluence while the larger percentage of the population of Nigeria has continued to wallow in abject poverty. This is what we need to address in Nigeria. Once we’re able to entrench transparency and accountability in public office, and the cost of governance is pruned down in considerable measure, we will see a very sharp and clear change in Nigeria – for the better. Cutting down the cost of governance is not in such measure that will spite progress though, but we need to cut down the cost of governance extremely. This in my opinion will better address the problem of poverty and inequality in Nigeria. Let’s entrench transparency and accountability and reduce the monetary/material reward attached to political service in Nigeria by 80 percent, and you will see that the political merchants (godfathers if you like), and the misfits and unqualified elements whose only idea of making it in life is to clinch a role in the public space will run away. And the public space in Nigeria will begin to attract qualified individuals who are passionate about service. The public space in Nigeria today is saturated with misfits and unqualified elements, some of whom lack the slightest idea of the implication of development. How can one pursue the course of development for his people or society when he doesn’t even know what development means.
Can we have a change of status quo in Nigeria as to make the reward for political service more of social recognition than monetary/material gains?
Can we have a country where a senator, for instance, goes home with a total of N800,000 (eight hundred thousand Naira) a month instead of about 29 million Naira that they currently make every month? I can go on and on but because I don’t want this article to be too lengthy.
The point I am trying to make in this opinion piece of mine is that instead of calling for a change of economic system in Nigeria, we should be pushing for entrenchment of accountability and transparency in public governance, and 80 percent reduction in the monetary/material reward for political service.
Political service should be for eggheads and intellectuals, citizens who are illustrious and accomplished in different walks of life, who now come into the public space with the passion to build society. The misfits and unqualified elements should go and hustle in the economic space, and leave the political space for the eminently qualified citizens.
To be continued
Meanwhile, political scientists will understand this write-up better. Sorry if you’re not one. Thanks for reading, all the same.
Kingsley Onwuka