A Minimum Framework (Charter) For Sustainable Human Development For The Northern Governors

By

Abubakar Atiku Nuhu-Koko

aanuhukoko@yahoo.com

 

Introduction

 

For over 40 years since Nigeria attained its political independence from the British colonial authorities, the northern region comprising the present 19 States of the federation is yet to catch up developmentally, with its counterparts regions that make up the present day modern Nigeria. This piece is not going to discuss the reasons why this is so. A lot of books had been published and conferences, workshops and seminars had been organized over the years for that purpose. However, the main purpose of this piece is to contribute to the search for the way forward for the present leaderships – the State Governors of the 19 States of northern Nigeria and their respective States Houses of Assemblies, Senators and Hon. Members of the Federal House of Representatives (i.e. National Assembly) to chart a new course for accelerated development of the region.

 

The encouraging signal that necessitated my advocating for a minimum development framework (charter) for rapid development of the region at this particular point in time comes from the recent turnover of leaderships in the region; following the 2007 general elections. Take it or leave it, the outcomes of the 2007 general elections, flawed as confirmed by all voices of reason, still  brought better leadership materials than what the region had in the immediate past eight years (1999-2007) – the years of locust and missed opportunities!

 

These crops of new leaders are generally from the class of well educated and experienced former civil servants. They are coming into political leadership positions with clear goals and objectives of what it means to serve and not to loot public treasuries for personal aggrandisements as witnessed in the immediate dispensation.

 

It is for this singular reason that I am very optimistic that all things being equal, the dreams of our leaders past will not be in vain. For example, the “Chief Servant” Dr. Mua’azu Babangida Aliyu (Talban Minna), Niger State Governor and current Chairman, Northern Governors’ Forum is leading by example and others are following him. Therefore, for his laudable and timely initiatives (particularly in providing exemplary leadership style and vision) to be sustained and translate into meaningful results for the betterment of the good peoples in these areas and beyond, I hereby recommend to the 19 northern states Governors a minimum development framework or charter for the next coming three years as follows:

 

Cardinal Principles

Entrenchment of people-centred democratic governance and leadership in all the 19 States in the north; where the spirit of transparency and accountability in the conduct of governmental affairs is the norm rather than an exception. Where the electorate have the right to know how their resources are being spent and for what purposes, and also be informed from time to time about the general state of affairs in governance of their respective states through institutionalised consultative process via their elected representatives at all levels of governance and the mass media.

 

Vision

To make all the 19 States in the north strong and viable political, economic and socio-cultural hubs for humanity and become competitive with all other States of the federation.

 

Mission

To uplift all the 19 States in the north and develop their great human, economic and natural resources potentials and deepen their political, economic and socio-cultural developments for the benefit of all

 

Objective

To provide enabling environments for the implementation and achievement of the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy as contained in Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the African Union’s (AU) New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) objectives in all the 19 States in the north through:

 

1.)    Policies, programmes and projects targeting eradications of extreme poverty and hunger;

2.)    Policies, programmes and projects targeting total elimination of illiteracy and

3.)    Policies, programmes and projects for accelerated sustainable agro-industrial and rural development

 

Prayer

The respective administrations of the northern states governors should adopt and implement the United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in their respective States as the minimum base for meeting the Constitutional requirements of the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Therefore, the status of implementation of the MDGs in the northern States by 2010 should put more emphasis on the following key development issues and areas:


Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger:

 

  • Reduce drastically the percentage of population living in relative poverty.

  • Reduce drastically the percentage of population living in extreme poverty (i.e., those that cannot afford 2900 calories per day).

  • Drastically reduce all types of unemployment in all the 19 States in the north.

  • Drastically reduce the percentage of underweight children.

 

These will be achieved through:

 

1. Provision of logistical, financial and training assistance to individuals, families and communities to engage in small and medium agricultural production (such as crop farming, fisheries and livestock and animal husbandry); commerce, service and industrial enterprises.

2. Provision of nutritional support and advisory services to the needy families.

3. Establish a state-wide food security and nutrition programme

 

Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education - Key messages:

 

1.)    Primary education is a right and should be made available to everyone.

2.)    Good quality education is essential for enabling all the 19 States in the north to achieve the level of economic growth needed to tackle poverty and make sustainable development a reality. It enables people to transform their own lives and the society in which they live.

3.)    Quality education is crucial to the achievement of all MDGs, particularly the health and economic MDGs.

 

Therefore, Northern Governors should:

 

·         Accelerate Primary school enrolment through the implementation of Universal Access to Primary Education Policy, programmes and projects.

·         Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education at all levels of education.

·         Improve completion rates of primary six grades for both boys and girls respectively.

·         Enhance literacy rate among people within the age group of 15 and 24.

 

These will be achieved through:

 

1.      Rehabilitation and construction of additional primary and secondary schools, teacher training colleges, vocational training and technical education colleges etc

2.      Re-training of existing teachers and recruitment and training new teachers.

3.      Enhancement of teaching and learning facilities and provision of state of the arts equipments (computers, internet connectivity, modern libraries and laboratory etc)

4.      Improvement of condition of service for teachers and educational administrators


Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women - Therefore, Northern Governors should:

 

  • Eliminate the pronounced imbalance between male and female enrolment in primary, secondary and tertiary education through provision of adequate incentives and facilities

  • Aggressively promote the importance of girl-child education in the rural communities through provision of necessary incentives and facilities.

  • Promote and encourage female adult home studies through provision of necessary incentives and facilities.

  • Promote women’s political participation at all levels of governance: decision- making processes and socio-economic advancement.

  •  

These will be achieved through:

 

  1. Expansion and modernisation of existing girls’ secondary schools and construction of new ones.

  2. Establishment of special public enlightenment programmes for promotion of girl child education and participation in development processes through mass media, local languages etc

  3.  Provision of scholarships for female students to further their studies up to tertiary level


Goal 4: Reduce Child Mortality - Therefore, Northern Governors should:

 

  • Drastically reduce infant mortality at birth (per 1000 births).

  • Drastically reduce Under-five child mortality rate (per 1000 live births).

  • Accelerate the proportion one-year-old children immunisation against measles, polio and other preventable diseases.

 

These will be achieved through:

 

  1. Improve the existing primary child care and maternity facilities

  2. Accelerate the pace of child immunisation programmes

  3. Improve access to clean water, personal hygiene and shelter


Goal 5: Improve Maternal Health - Therefore, Northern Governors should:

 

  • Drastically reduce maternal mortality ratio per 100,000.

  • Accelerate the training of birth attendants/health-care personnel (mid-wives and nurses etc)

 

These will be achieved through:

 

  1. Revamp and modernise existing primary health centres and establish new community heath centres and maternity clinics

  2. Improve the condition of service of primary health care workers

 

Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases - Therefore, Northern Governors should:

 

  • Drastically reduce HIV prevalence among 15 - 24 years olds through HIV education and enlightenment programmes and projects.

  • Drastically reduce deaths resulting from malaria, tuberculosis and other preventable diseases.

 

These will be achieved through:

 

  1. Establishment of special public enlightenment and awareness programmes

  2. Provide medical health and welfare assistance to AIDS-Orphans and people living with HIV/AIDS.

 

Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability - Key messages:

 

1.)    Environmental resources such as forests, water and a consistent climate have a vital role to play in boosting economic growth and reducing poverty. That’s why we need to look after our environment and make sure it’s being used in a sensible and sustainable way.

 

2.)    Many of the world’s poorest people depend on natural resources for a healthy diet, clean water, shelter, energy, and medicines. What’s more, these people are often most vulnerable to disasters and hazards such as flooding, landslides and pollution brought about or exacerbated by environmental degradation

 

3.)    Environmental sustainability is essential for meeting all the Millennium Development Goals. Environmental objectives should be part and parcel of development, to avoid environmental risks and promote environmental opportunities for enhancing development.

 

Therefore, Northern Governors should:

 

  • Include the principles of sustainable development in policies, programmes and projects and reverse the loss of environmental resources.

  • Promote sustainable use of land resources and land area covered by trees, forest and water. This will include:

 

    1. Policy on Erosion and Flood Control

    2. Policy on Drought and Desertification Mitigation

    3. Policy on Soil Conservation and Watershed Management

    4. Policy on Drought Preparedness, Management and Strategy

 

  • Promote the use of alternative energy sources, particularly modern conventional renewable energy sources.

  • Aggressively enlighten the public against deforestation and unsustainable methods of crop production.

  • Increase the proportion of households with access to safe drinking water.

  • Increase the proportion of households with access to basic sanitation.

 

Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development - Therefore, Northern Governors should:

 

  • Forge mutual partnerships with bilateral/donor community and multilateral development partners domiciled in Nigeria and abroad towards achieving the MDGs.

 

  • Appoint and train appropriate specialised Desk Officers to supervise, monitor and evaluate progress of implementation of MDGs - policies, programmes and projects in all the ministries and parastatals involved in the implementation of MDGs in their respective states.

 

  • Appoint and train appropriate specialised Desk Officers to liaise with country offices of the following bilateral and multilateral development partners/donor community with assistance of the Ministries of National Planning and Finance: The World Bank (WB); African Development Bank (AfDB); Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD); European Union/Commission (EU); Commonwealth of Nations; United States of America’s Agency for International Development (USAID); United States of America’s Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA); United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DfID), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA); German and French International Cooperation Agencies etc. These organizations/agencies spend billions of development assistance Naira yearly in Nigeria. However, only the States that show preparedness and capacity to meet their requirements can access these “free” funds from them.

 

  • Appoint Special Assistants to liaise with the sister states from the Niger Delta region for the purpose of mobilising support and solidarity for the state governments and good peoples of these states in the quest for finding permanent solutions to the social, economic and environmental problems of the region in the interest of national cohesion, unity and mutual understanding.

 

  • All the 19 States in the north should build human resources capacities in the following areas: public finance economists, national accounts statisticians, and industry analysts responsible for producing and documenting socio-economic data and information, financial accounts and statements that serve as primary sources of records. These include the people who produce published government budgets as well as those in academic institutions, intergovernmental organisations (IGOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who then rework the data for their own particular purposes.

 

In a nutshell, the above issues are just a broad bird’s eyes view and snapshots of what I think are reasonable issues the 19 northern State Governors should consider in their respective domains in the next coming three years in addition to other development agendas they might have for their constituents.

 

 

Abubakar Atiku Nuhu-Koko

Monday, 16 June 2008