INTRODUCTION:
The reason why Nigeria nay Africa has not made any progress is because our
political system is patterned after what we inherited from our colonial masters.
My concept of restructuring is to
create new structures that cut across colonially inherited divides in the
African Society which are mainly tribal, ethnic and religious differences.
If Nigeria must remain one, it
must be under true Federalism.
There is a need to focus on structures
that make up the fabrics of society i.e. the Executive arm of government the
Legislative arm and the Judiciary all supported by the Civil Service.
In a bid to function under the
Democratic set up, imported from outside Africa, each of these three arms of
government has been malfunctioning because the mostly poor and illiterate Nigerians
cannot successfully elect representatives who will honestly work for the
welfare of the people.
What is supposed to be a Federal
Government has continued to be operated as a Unitary Government for the greater
part of the country’s independence under leaders without any vision. Most of
those who have been able to ascend to leadership have been busy feathering
their nests under massive corruption at the expense of the development of the society
THE
CIVIL SERVICE
In our bid to copy our colonial
masters, the civil service structure that we inherited from them has become the
engine room for corruption and the largest contributor to idle workforce.
People eye top positions in the civil service with a view to enriching
themselves and their kith and kin.
The politicians employ those that
will favour their selfish goals into strategic positions in the civil service.
Many of the civil servants cannot think beyond carrying files from one table to
the other. Those who have businesses to transact with government have to bribe
civil servants before their files can move from “cradle to grave”
The civil service in the three
tiers of government as is presently conceived has outlived its usefulness and
should be massively downsized and restructured. Those who have been in service
for more than fifteen years should have enjoyed ample time to stabilize and should
be retired, to be replaced by competent young graduates who have been in the
labour market for about five (5) years. A few of the older civil servants who
have proved to be outstanding and innovative should be retained to bring up the
newly recruited trainees. Merit should be the watchword and not “who you know”
THE
LEGISLATURE
The Legislature in the state and
federal level (especially in Nigeria) does not justify the huge expenses
incurred in their day to day operation.
My humble suggestion is that a Think
Tank made up of professionals in all works of life not appointed along ethnic,
religious and tribal lines, and not more than 90 (Ninety people) should take
over the functions of our present legislators who are earning outrageous
salaries and allowances with no laws being passed to make life easier for the
average Nigerians.
This Think Tank should draw the
blueprint on how the society can operate more efficiently with reasonable costs
of their maintenance.
THE
EXECUTIVE
The executive should be headed by
somebody who has an impeccable character and has been unanimously agreed by
most Nigerians to have contributed to the progress of society.
The candidate should not be a
corrupt moneybag who has looted the national/state treasury to succeed. He/She
must have a vision that will motivate the society towards high ideals. Those to
work with the national leader should be those in age-group categories who have
made their mark as achievers in society without their hands being soiled.
The present Democratic process
which is stolen-money politics that has always produced government of the
looters for the looters should be proscribed.
A society that is made up of mostly
poor and impoverished people cannot thrive in a democratic setup that is being
operated in Nigeria.
THE
JUDICIARY
The judiciary should be
restructured to facilitate speedy administration of justice, prison
decongestion and should be cushioned from becoming a tool of the executive as is
mostly the case in the African Democratic set up.
The independence of the judiciary
should be guaranteed. Jurists should be assembled to determine the way forward
for a more efficient administration of justice.
Contributions and criticisms to
the above suggestions are welcome.
God Bless Nigeria.
God Bless Africa
God Bless Humanity
Kindly visit:
Very Truly Yours
Evang. Déjà vu
Please circulate widely.
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