Matters Arising By Carl Umegboro – TheNigerialawyer

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on 29 May, 2019 took oath of office
for his second term following his victory at the recent polls. The
first tenure tagged ‘Change’ was characterized by some stringent
policies including banning of a number of commodities especially
agricultural produce to boost local productions. As a result, many
businesses suffered. Likewise, all monetary dealings in government
MDAs (ministries, departments and agencies) strictly followed an
unusual procedure of the Treasury Single Account (TSA). Though,
corruption hasn’t been totally knocked out, however, there is
seemingly encouraging degree of sanity in government circles.
Irrefutably, it has not been business as usual.

Nonetheless, by the renewed mandate, President Buhari owes the
masses so much in terms of service delivery in the new phase he
tagged ‘Next-level’. Expectingly, the first major task is to slash
jumbo allowances in the National Assembly. Without it clearly done,
no meaningful achievements can take place considering the mass of
lawmakers in the government’s payroll. It is grossly awkward and
exploitative to allocate to a lawmaker unaccountable
monthly-running cost of N13.5million amidst agonizing unemployment
ratio and hardships in the society. Sensibly, there’s no basis for
a legislator to even earn more remunerations than professors,
permanent secretaries or ministers let alone the inexplicably
additional monthly-running costs. Without doubt, blocking such
leakages or outrageous expenditures is fundamental in conserving
funds for government’s meaningful capital projects for the
masses.

The Economist; a UK leading source of analysis on
international business and world affairs in its July 2013 review of
lawmakers’ remunerations globally, reported that Nigeria’s federal
lawmakers earn more that their US, UK, German, Brazil and South
African counterparts. Meanwhile, according to world poverty clock,
Nigeria has more than 40% of its population living in extreme
poverty which is much higher than Ghana’s 12%, Zimbabwe’s 26% and
South Africa’s 24%. Furthermore, a report by Brookings Institution
about a year ago rated Nigeria as the nation with the highest
number of extremely poor people. These are inconsistencies. Hence,
the excesses in the legislative arm must be checkmated this
time.

Next is reform of the electoral system which is critically
indispensable. All the electoral malpractices and violence leading
to scores of deaths of citizens are traceable to excessively
attractive financial benefits attached to political offices.
Inadvertently, it has gotten to the point that not one person wants
to return to primary vocation after feeling the juicy packages. As
panacea to recurring violence during general elections, the
government should plan to migrate to digital voting system in
conventionality with other countries. If not, the ugly situation
may worsen in the next general elections in 2023 due to increased
political interests. To put it straightforward, the population is
excessive for manual ballot system vis-à-vis security,
administration, supervision and logistics alongside financial
implications. The banking automated teller machines (ATM) system is
a practical model for general elections if voters must vote at
designated places.

Instructively, the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) and National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) could
configure the new digital National Identification Number (NIN) card
to also serve as voter’s card for digital elections in provided
electronic devices. Emphatically, enough of manual or
printing-paper voting system with its concomitant vulnerabilities.
By migrating to digital voting system, the huge budgets for
quadrennial general elections will be curtailed and channeled to
significant people-oriented capital projects demanding
attentions.

Furthermore, the Executive Order No 7 of 2019 on Road
Infrastructural Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit
Scheme through Public-Private Partnerships must be translated to a
reality as soon as possible. By the policy, numerous projects
should be running simultaneously across the nation unlike the
protracted defective system, thereby creating employment
opportunities for citizens.

Equally, the numerous challenges facing education and healthcare
sectors should be addressed. This will curtail lavishing of public
funds incessantly for overseas patronages by public officeholders.
Our public hospitals can be improved to meet international
standard. Essentially, government must devote sufficient resources
in its fight against illiteracy by ensuring that education is
affordable and efficiently reformed to meet contemporary needs.
Government’s existing scheme; Open and Distance Learning mode
should be substantially, advancingly promoted. This is germane as
in most cases, people without education or skills at any slightest
pressure become vulnerable; always willing tools to be used as
terrorists, kidnappers, political thugs and bandits to measure
up.

Another critical issue that cannot be overemphasized is child
neglect in the society. Child-Rights Act deserves premium
attention. By the number of vulnerable children in the streets,
Nigeria is practically, heading towards a tsunami of disasters
except addressed. Possibly, government should organize periodic
census on children for adequate planning and care as a remedy
towards capturing all unregistered children in the society.
Interestingly, such actions will systematically help in tackling
age cheat that is prevalent in the public sector which has lasted
for ages. Obviously, investing in children particularly through
child education is fundamental. Any nation with premium value on
its children is robotically secured for a thriving future and
serene atmosphere. Commendably, pupils’ feeding scheme should
gather momentum.

On power, although there are reportedly significant
improvements, nonetheless, citizens want nothing else but
uninterrupted electricity supply. If it requires review of the
previous privatization exercise, needless to waste time. Whatever
it will take, the bottom-line is that Nigeria must, in reality, be
the giant of Africa by 2023 in all ramifications. Ghana and other
African countries determinedly achieved improved electricity. The
Next-level must be distinctive with exploits and significant
attainments.

By substantial improvements in the healthcare, education,
infrastructural development and power sectors, certainly, the
economy will automatically be stimulated for citizens to, with
ease, afford the bare necessaries of life. With that, insecurity
will technically be reduced to the minimum. By meeting these
targets, Buhari will write his name in gold while embarking on
political retirement in 2023. Meanwhile, congratulations Mr.
President and wishing you a remarkable new tenure with giant
strides.

Umegboro is a public affairs analyst and Associate,
Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (United Kingdom).
08023184542-SMS only Https:www.carlumegboro.com^[1] 

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