The 2023 general elections in Nigeria has come and passed, resilient candidates from different political parties have contested and some that eventually emerged victorious are now the only hopes for ordinary citizens.
After that, one of the vital factors for the success or failure of an administration is mostly determined by the set of people that surround leaders. The cabinets include ministers and heads of agencies at federal level, commissioners and advisers to governors at state level as well as members of local councils in local government level.
Indubitably, appointees are like the eyes of leaders with which they see where, how and what to do, appointing quacks or unqualified personnel therefore is like giving a farmer tools to conduct surgery. However, those in the cabinets are usually appointed whereas some based on their professional contributions, some because of their loyalty while others due to financial supports during campaigns. Administering the affairs of ministers, departments and agencies of government requires people with vast experience, bureaucratic skills, ability to work under pressure, etc.
Political god-fatherism is what has been dragging Nigeria aback as influential elite invest huge amounts before the elections which come along with conditions. Some of the conditions include giving them freewill to appoint whoever they like in some offices, channeling specific funds to them on monthly or annual basis or corruption charges on them will be dropped when the candidate wins the election. These and more are what lead to the hatching of merciless leaders that mostly use idle youths as thugs while sending their wards abroad to study.
The high rates of poverty, unemployment and criminalities are as result of appointing incompetent individuals; they divert funds meant for eradicating poverty or implementing projects, commercialise government’s jobs, and sponsor assassins to cause unrest to communities that challenge them. Also, disregard to the rule of law alongside absence of checks and balances are what fuel abuse of office by the appointees, they do as they wish because of strong and independent supervisory committees.
Some governments in Nigeria approve the provision of social amenities such as roads, schools and hospitals but give less priority to pay unplanned or unscheduled visit to those sites. Unfortunately, even when contractors are found obviously guilty of using substandard materials, poor constructions and other faults that could lead to the cancelation of the projects, the venom of ‘Who you know or who knows you’ mostly compel members of supervisory committees drop the charges on the defaulters.
Nigeria as the beacon of Africa’s democracy should be a frontier in every aspects, leaders need to be wary of who they carry along as cabinet members, there are lots of animals in human clothing. Strict oversight is therefore necessary by the legislature before approving personalities sent to them. There is need for laws that would allow independent candidacy as it is done in developed countries. This would help in putting an end to the god-fatherism syndrome and stop their unnecessary interference in governance.
In conclusion, leaders at all levels should set some committees to secretly checkmating how ministers, commissioners and local government council members run the affairs of their various public offices. This would assist in identifying corrupt and inept officials. President, governors and chairmen of local governments should never just let go off cabinet members that are using youths as thugs. They should face the wrath of the law while engaging the youths in fruitful ventures that would better their lives and those of society.
Mukhtar Kobi,
Bauchi, Bauchi state