If I Were A Governor In Nigeria…

Nigeria is a country rich in human and natural resources. Every state can boast of land in abundance that can support one type of food and cash crop or the other. Every state can also boast of some form of natural/mineral resource, but everyday our rulers continue to feed fat on the income generated from our collective oil wealth, without caring a hoot for the people over which they exert rulership. 

In Nigeria, we can hardly identify leaders, all we have are a cabal of rulers intent only on raping and pillaging the country of her God endowed wealth. Many of them, in the bid to get rich quick are overcome by their lust and become insatiable and even murderous, not caring about anything or anyone in their bid to feed fat on resources that should be used for the collective good. 

If I were a governor in Nigeria, I will first commission an honest research into what I can do with the natural and human resources in my area of jurisdiction. I emphasize the word honest because most reports that our rulers get to work with are designed to whet their appetite for quick money and so inflated contracts are awarded to pursue fictitious projects that do not benefit the people or at best benefits only a few. Thus, monies can be moved out of the government’s coffers into private pockets, no questions asked. 

Armed with honest research about the human and natural resources of the state I will immediately deploy plans to harness these resources to generate income for the running of the state, working with like-minded individuals who will be monitored through documented reports of their activities and independent physical inspection of assigned projects by designated independent inspectors, the final inspector being myself as the governor. 

I will work to match the progress of the work done with funds allocated to it in order to ensure that the expected targets will be met and will not hesitate to investigate and if necessary prosecute any one found engaging in activities that contravene the laws of the land. Gross incompetence will attract dismissal which can be couched as resignation. 

I will also work at providing basic infrastructure for the people, so that day to day living will cease to be a tortuous experience. Provision of infrastructure such as light, water, motorable roads, cheap transportation and housing will always encourage the polity to support the government. Peoples expectations are simple and most will willingly pay for services that they get. 

Imagine that before the advent of the digital meter, we were forced by NEPA/PHCN to pay for services not rendered and to add insult to injury the entities could not be sued. Even in cases of wrongful death, where people have gotten judgment, they were never able to collect the awarded damages! 

Welfare packages will be available for the poor and physically challenged as well as vocational, adult literacy and retraining programs so that poor and physically challenged people can become self supporting and contributing members of the society. Civil societies and other like minded people/NGOs will be encouraged to join in the work to provide diversity and increase the coverage. 

Education will be compulsory at all levels and will be heavily subsidized by the state, this is to ensure that every child can read and write and has the opportunity to advance to a minimum of OND qualification. Adult education will also be offered at convenient times and in easily accessible locations for free in order to encourage those who may have missed the opportunity in their younger days. Education will be geared towards producing future leaders who can continue the strategic development of the state. 

I will also introduce a fixed tax rate for all citizens and corporate organizations. Taxes paid by corporate bodies will be weighted against the resources they use and their productivity without being punitive. Corporate tax will also be categorized according to the industry segment. The first reason for this is that tax should not be punitive and secondly this should encourage all to pay. 

A combination of the taxes generated, industries and services in the state should go a long way in establishing an enduring foundation for the state. The implication also is that the activities in the state will not grind to a halt because the expected allocation from Abuja has not been received. The state can then develop through the development of her citizens and judicious use of her internal resources. 

These are a few of my thoughts on what I would do as a governor of a state in Nigeria.

Robot  Villager

# 1 If I Were A Governor In Nigeria… Funmi Njoku-Marcel Nigeria is a country rich in human and natural resources.Every state can boast of land in abundance that can support one type of food and cash crop or the other.Every state can also boast of some form of natural/mineral resource, but everyday our rulers continue to feed fat on the income generated from our collective oil wealth, without caring a hoot for the people over which they exert rulership. In Nigeria, we can hardly identify leaders, all we have are a cabal of rulers intent only on raping and pillaging the country of her God endowed wealth. Many of them, in the bid to get rich quick are overcome by their lust and become insatiable and even murderous, not caring about anything or anyone in their bid to feed fat on resources that should be used for the collective good. If I were a governor in ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 10.11.2008 00:41

NinjaT  Villager

# 2 Nice article.....You don't have to worry about the policies or how it will be implemented but about the people you will work with. Corruption has eaten deep into the fabrics of the Nigerian Society. Nigerians already have a misconception about what governance is and changing that will be the major issue you have to deal with. Posted by NinjaT| 10.11.2008 08:36