NIGERIA’S CULTURE OF POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS

NASIRU USMAN MASSALLACHI argues the need for leaders to go for the best 

The 2023 general election in Nigeria has come and gone. Candidates from different political parties contested for the elections and some that eventually emerged victorious are now the only hopes for ordinary citizens. One of the vital factors for the success or failure of an administration is mostly determined by the set of people that surrounds leaders. The cabinets usually range from ministers and heads of agencies at federal levels, commissioners and advisers to governors at state levels as well as members of local councils in local governments.

Indubitably, appointees are the eyes of leaders.  Appointing quacks or unqualified personnel therefore is like giving a farmer tools to conduct surgery. However, those in the cabinet are usually appointed; some appointments are based on track records of professional contributions. Others get theirs because of their loyalty while others make it due to financial supports during campaigns. Administering the affairs of ministry, agency or department of governments require people that have vast experiences, bureaucratic skills, and ability to work under pressure.

But I must say that political God-fatherism is what has been dragging Nigeria back. Many men of influence invest huge amounts before election, and which come with conditions.  Some of the conditions include giving them freewill to appoint whoever they like in some offices, channeling specific funds to them on monthly or annual basis. These and more are what lead to the emergence of heartless leaders who mostly use idle youths as thugs while sending their wards abroad to some of the best institutions that money can buy.

I ascribe the extremely high rates of poverty and unemployment in Nigeria today to the inability of our leaders to appoint square pegs in square holes.  Many of the people they employ or give appointments are incompetent individuals who specialize in diverting public funds. Some of these leaders commercialize government jobs to the extent that only those with deep pockets and who have strong political ties get appointments. Most of the time if they do not get what they want they are wont to cause unrest in their immediate communities.

There is evidence to indicate that after approval for the construction and provision of social amenities such as roads, schools and hospitals, they give less priority to follow up visits to these projects to carry out performance checks. This is because some of these contracts were given to bogus contractors who carry out construction with substandard materials. It is usually the ‘Who You Know or Who Knows You’ syndrome that takes precedence over quality and competence.

And that’s why many projects duly paid for are abandoned.

Nigeria as epicenter for Africa’s democracy should do what is right. Our leaders need to be wary of who they carry along as cabinet members. There are many incompetent people lurking around and it is therefore necessary to carry out thorough investigations on these people before they are approved to man sensitive positions in government. Besides, there is need to make provision for independent candidacy as it is done in developed countries; this would help in putting an end to the politics of God-fatherism.

In conclusion, leaders at all levels should arrange for some kind of ombudsmen to look into how public officials run the affairs of their various public offices. Doing this would assist in identifying halfhearted officials.

 Massallachi writes from Gombe