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Redefining And Repositioning The Political –Economic Landscape Of Nigeria By Benjamin Ogbebulu
POLITICAL REFORM
As democracy remains the best vehicle for ensuring positive change and political consciousness is what feeds democracy , Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora are now yeaning for a radical change in terms of economic and political reforms {Electoral /Economic reforms} under president Shehu Musa Yar’Adua administration. Diaspora is very happy with the recent High court judgement in Abuja which has now made it possible for the Nigerians in the Diaspora to vote and be voted for. As this writer is one of those who have been campaigning for the political and Economic rights of the Diaspora people, we commend our Judiciary for this laudable development and hope speedy judgement will be dispensed on remaining electoral cases still pending.
For any meaningful development to take place there must be an effective and efficient institutions and this could be understood from the governance perspective.
Governance generally, is primarily concerned with two inter-related issues. These are { a} existence of societal institutions for managing social relations: and { B} the degree of independence enjoyed by each institution in the performance of its assigned duties. It could be said that the state of institutions along these two dimensions determines the quality of governance.
The truth is, globally, we are going through the most severe global financial crisis since the days of great Depression . Originated in USA, economic recession is affecting all major players of world economy . Nigeria Government and major policy makers in the country must take notice of the urgency to stem poverty { infant mortality rates}, unemployment and crime in the country. Government should encourage public-private partnership to create jobs and our manufacturing sector and SME,s should be assisted with funds by the government to prevent perpetual death of these industries.
Nigerians are keenly watching and hoping that our Bi-cameral system of government works together for the best interests of Nigerians and Nigeria. This writer urges our parliamentarians to rise up to their responsibilities and work transparently, respectfully and passionately together for the good of the nation. The newly rebranding project of the Government should start from our government through the provisions of social amenities like power, creation of jobs, affordable health care delivery system and good roads .
The citizens should complements the efforts of the government by rising up to their responsibilities politically, economically and socially for example, by getting jobs and paying their taxes as at when dues and perform their civic duties when the occasion arises. We only have one country and as stakeholders, we all should work together to move the nation forward progressively for our children and generations to come.
Political/ Economic analysts will argue that there are three identified major groups of stakeholders around which institutions could be appraised. These groups comprise { a} The government { public sector}, { b} business { private sector}; and { c} civil society { the people }. These are the three primary partners {3 P’s} in the development process of any nation. How far has the nation called Nigeria fetched?.
Nigeria as a multi-party state operate an executive presidential system of government similar to the US Bi-cameral system of government with nearly 50 political parties since 1999.This writer believes multiplicity of political parties should not be encourage as these political parties lacks ideologies , at most 2 political parties, one to the right and the other to the left as obtained in the developed world and independent candidacy is suffice to consolidate our democracy. The proposition for a mega party to wrestle with the main party { The PDP } is thoughtful but how feasible and realistic is this proposal as this could be seen as marriage of inconvenience .
Nigeria as a country has 36 states with elected Governor and elected state Assembly of between 24 and 40 seats depending on the size of the population. All elected offices have four year tenure and the Third tier has 774 local governments. Indications shows to a large Extent that there is cordial relationship between the Legislative arms of the Government, lower chambers {House of the representatives], the senate, {upper chambers}, the executive and The Judiciary.
It is worthy to know that the two Houses have now passed the 2009 fiscal budget with executive endorsement . Nigerians are eager to see an effective implementation of this budget for an improved standard of living of the people and the development of the nation.
Nigerians also, hope to see that the harmonious relationship between the executive and the legislature in a manner that promotes transparency, equity and good governance. The two arms of government should be committed to continual institutional reforms { Electoral Reforms , towards ensuring sustained democratic accountability to the Nigerian people in today’s era of globalisation with question mark. It is the view of this writer that all the stakeholders should be involved in reviewing / amending our constitution for example, all the State Houses of Assemblies, The civil Society, The Diaspora and The Judiciary should all be allowed to submit memoranda, passionately and intellectually discussed by the Two Houses for an all inclusive and effective modern constitution for our country.
Retired Justice Uwais electoral reform report should be implemented . To borrow US president, Barrack Obama phrase “YES, WE CAN.” Nigeria can have an all inclusive and progressive constitution subject to amendment as the circumstances dictates, as long as our leaders show the political will and lead in the crusade of being patriotic to our motherland, the country that has what it takes to be great both in natural and human resources.
The Judiciary on its part with its recent pronouncements has demonstrated to Nigerians, its commitment to the rule of law and should do more to the speedy and fair dispensation of justice to the remaining appeal cases .Also, The judiciary should not be afflicted with the virus of alleged widespread corruption and misdemeanour which has tainted the integrity of this arm of government in some parts of the federation but rather continue the good work of administering justice in an equitable and progressive manner. Nigerians in the Diaspora commend our judiciary and encourage them to continuing to rise up to the expectations of Nigerians in the dispensation of justice in the country.
ECONOMIC REFORM
THE NEED FOR PART PRIVATISATION {ECONOMIC REFORMS} OF SOME PUBLIC ENTERPRISES IN NIGERIA.
Today’s globalisation has now made both the developing and developed worlds trade together. How ever, disparity of trade exists between the developed countries and developing countries. World trade Organisation { WTO} should create the level playing field to allow Africans goods to compete internationally. As Human beings now live in a globalised world where issues like trade, poverty HIV aids and climate change just to mention a few transcends barriers and national boundaries . Privatisation of industries by nations{ mixed market economy} is one of the measures being embarked upon by countries both by the developed and developing worlds to revamp their ailing economies.
The former communist’s countries like china, Russia, Japan, Indonesia, Poland Just to mention a few have now opened their economies to the world. The writer is of the view that it is now time for Nigeria to progressively follow suit and open up her economy for investors both of indigenes and foreign to invest in the abundant enormous resources , most of which are yet to be fully exploited in the country for example in the areas of : Mineral, Agriculture , Gas and Human resources .
OBJECTIVES OF PRIVASATION IN NIGERIA { BENEFITS}
Economists and political analysts will argue that if the ailing companies in Nigeria were part privatised, Nigeria economy would benefits from the followings:
NIGERIA SWOT ANALYSIS{ STRENGTH ,WEAKNESS, OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATHS.} STRENGTH: -Nigeria has abundant natural , human, agricultural and mineral resources in the country. - Skilled manpower
WEAKNESS: Corruption in the system, inefficient power supply and low level of infrastructural development
OPPORTUNITIES:
THREATS:
PRIVATE SECTOR INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA
Evidence today shows that the private sector in Nigeria today is still at its infancy . There exist relatively inactive private organizations in most states in Nigeria. Some of these umbrella organizations , are the Manufacturer’s Association { MAN},National Association of Chambers of commerce , Industries, Mines, and Agriculture { NACCIMA}, and National Association of Small-scale Industries { NASSI }/ SMES , among others. Also, there are several associations spread all over the country , but there is an urgent need for better cohesion and co-ordination to enable these organisations work very well for their members and country.
WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS FACING PRIVATE SECTOR IN NIGERIA?
Political analysts and economists argues that the development of the above sectors are very important in ensuring Nigeria’s ability to develop as a modern economy and industrialised nation by 2020 attainable if our leaders can show that political will by providing the necessary infrastructure and Nigerians showing that high level of patriotism to their fatherland.
3.Multiplicity of taxes which discourage production . The writer urge the central government in collaboration with the 36 states of the country to come up with an harmonised realistic PAYE and Business rate taxes as obtained in the developed economies. Shunning political leanings, our leaders must cultivate the habit of putting the national interest { country/ citizens } above their personal interest. Government must create that enabling environment to allow investors to invest , create jobs to reduce unemployment which will ultimately improve the living standards of the vast majority of Nigerians .
CREATING THE ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IN THE COUNTRY.
Today, it has been argued by economists and political analysts that Nigeria offers the market in Sub-Saharan/West African Sub region , with a population of about 120 million people. Nigeria is the UK’s second largest market in Sub- Saharan Africa after South- Africa. According to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth office, The value of Exports has increased steadily from £ 535 million in 2000 to £ 836 million in 2006 and this trend continues year by year.
The UK is one of the largest investors in Nigeria, with cumulative investment of several billions pounds by SHELL, BRITISH GAS & CENTRICA in the Oil and Gas sector. Other large British companies active in Nigeria includes GUINESS, CADBURY, BRITISH-AMERICAN TOBACCO, GLAXOSMITHKLINE, BRTISH AIRWAYS and VIRGIN ATLANTIC.
Since 1999, Nigeria has consolidated its democracy by continually to redefining and repositioning the country politically and economically to withstand the test of the time.
The central Government should come up with an exchange control regulations to ensure free flow of international finance and unrestricted movement of investment capital to be encouraged by the government. Nigeria government should pursued economic reforms round the privatization and deregulation policy { PPP} which seek to transfer state ownership of institutions to the private sectors of the Nigerian economy. In Nigeria today, the growth in the Telecommunication { GSM} sector after years of stagnation has transformed the economic environment thereby creating employment for Nigerians.
The present day Nigeria, should offers opportunities for investors in areas of natural gas exploitation, bitumen, limestone, coal, tin, columbite, gold, silver, lead-zinc, gypsum, glass sands, clays, asbestos, graphite and iron to mention a few from the solid minerals sector of the economy. The process to obtain Licenses for investors both local and foreign granted by the Federal ministry of solid minerals development in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital must be transparent , effective and less cumbersome.
INVESTMENT IN PETROLEUM AND GAS SECTOR.
Reports according to The Federal Ministry of solid minerals shows today that The Nigerian oil reserves today stands as 23 billion barrels while the gas reserves stands as 160 trillion cubic meters. It has been argued by researchers that there is more Gas than oil in Nigeria . It has also been argued according to the recent Government report that the Country’s oil reserve could last for about Thirty- one years while the gas could last for another seventy- Two years . Unfortunately, despite abundance of gas in the country, local gas utilization is constrained due to limited transmission systems and investors are needed to help in the transmission, distribution and marketing of this sector to help in addressing the epileptic energy problem in the country.
While it could be argued that much still needed to be done by the present administration of President Yar’Adua government of unity in redefining and repositioning the political and economic landscape of Nigeria, The Government should be applauded in its commitment to the rule of law as pronounced by the Judiciary in its recent cases in Ondo, Edo, Oyo, and Imo. Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora hope with the passage and prudent implementation of the 2009 fiscal budget, The political – Economic problems facing the nation will enhance the sustainability of democracy in the country |