How many of us know that we, the voters, have the right to keep the elected officials in line? Is it possible that we (the electorate) can become more involved in our democratic responsibilities?

The objectives of this article are:

1. To view the government of our country as a business venture where the elected/appointed officials are the directors of the business and WE (the people) are shareholders and customers – key stakeholders.

2. To remind the electorate of the rights and the powers they possess

3. To share working examples of systems from advanced countries

4. To instigate a change in our negative and self-defeating mind-set viz. ‘this cannot work in Nigeria’

Business ventures offer a service/product in order as to meet a market demand and shareholder needs (their return on an investment). Likewise, in a democratic setting we understand that democracy is “government of the people, by the people, for the people” (Abraham Lincoln). So, as shareholders, we have right to information about the governance of our business. If the business is not providing us with adequate returns on our investment, we could appoint new directors to introduce significant and beneficial changes. Conversely, as customers of the government, we are kings and if we are dissatisfied with a product or service, we can do either of the following (1) refuse to use the product/service and/or (2) provide a negative report on the product/service and caution others not to patronise that business or (3) do nothing. Importantly, the directors remain accountable for the product and to the customer. The customer, too, has a responsibility to keep the directors in line.

Sadly, for many years we have adopted the ‘do nothing’ option as it relates to governance possibly because we do not know our rights and entitlements. We, the governed, possess democratically assured power. This reality is evident in the recent and welcome winds of change sweeping across our country. Sadly, many might understand the change to mean only a change of political party whilst others might believe that it is their turn to feast from the national treasury! Nevertheless, democracy demands that elected leaders are accountable for their actions – a transparency enriched by integrity. Therefore, we the stakeholders must play our part. The core, respective responsibilities of the elected and the electorate define effective governance – a partnership of equals.

Will Nigeria be among the top 20 economies in the year 2020? We all hope this will be the case. However, are we on the way? Let us look at some sectors in developed countries and query whether their good practices remind us of what attainable progress is all about. Consider the issues of effective information dissemination, quality enriched and affordable education, free health care, adequate security, effective transportation systems, employee welfare and responses to emergency situations as it affects ordinary Nigerians.

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION

A recent visit to the OIS centre in London for BVN enrolment surprised me. Many Nigerians, had no idea why they were there and had only responded to the directive by the CBN because they wanted continued access to their account. Some suggested that the BVN sought to apprehend those responsible for stealing our money. Another thought that its function was to help establish a data base for Nigeria while others believed that the BVN sought to capture the biometric details of each account holder. There was a clear breakdown in communication between the government and governed. Communication from the government to the electorate is a democratic imperative. The National Orientation Agency (NOA) whose responsibility it is to create awareness and enlighten the public are not living up to expectations. They are supposed to carry out campaigns to inform and educate the public about government’s policies and its potential benefits. Has our right to information about the BVN suffered because of communication lag? The government’s responsibility is to effectively communicate policies. In contrast, communication is not only important, the process is a shareholder, customer, stakeholder right. In the United Kingdom. Whenever a new policy is introduced or changed, the information from the sender is usually accessible and self-explanatory. If not, then the citizens voice their objections.

EDUCATION

The United Kingdom provides free education from primary up to high school for its residents (note it is not restricted to their citizens alone). Educational assistance is offered to British citizens wishing to study at their public universities – loans are repayable once the graduates are in gainful employment. Conversely, Nigerian universities do not offer free education. The National University Commission’s accredited universities remain under-funded, over-crowded, poorly maintained and inadequately stocked. Nigerian universities stand out like sore thumbs in our oil rich country. Gone are those days when we used to have many students from other countries come to Nigeria to study. How can Nigeria’s Vision 2020 goal reach fruition when strikes (reflecting staff dissatisfaction) subsequent ripple negatively into the lecture room and adversely affect student education? How can we achieve educational success when the NUC, charged with the responsibility of regulating universities in Nigeria refuses to embrace modern technology and stubbornly and defiantly rejects the growing trend of the proven successes of globally used distance learning/blended learning/online learning? In comparison, the UK’s full time studies have 25% of classroom attendance and 75% of independent study. Globally, other universities have adopted distance learning to cater for increasing student enrolment. Quality education is our right and not a privilege, is it not?

HEALTH CARE

The UK offers free health care for its residents who register with a General Practitioner (GP). Prescriptions are subsidised and free for National Health Service pensioners, and children below 18years of age. There is also a special NHS Maternity Exemption Certificate for pregnant women. This is valid for up to 2 years and with this certificate you get free dental care, health check-up and prescription. The UK government is concerned about the health of its citizens and its research and care from the cradle to the grave is praiseworthy. Now, what about Nigeria’s health care? Does the provision of this basic human right exist for all – regardless of age, status and wealth? On the contrary, the NHIS system in Nigeria needs drastic improvement particularly with respect to the attitude of hospital staff and their owners. For example, a patient was told by the hospital that the Federal Government had not paid them so they refused to treat him. The same patient now had to use his private card with the hospital before they treated him. Furthermore, as most drugs are not covered under NHIS, some hospitals often prescribe the cheapest (probably not very effective) drugs. You hear statements like “this is the only NHIS drug available”. There was another instance where a patient covered under NHIS went for treatment and they prescribed drugs without carrying out any tests. However, when the same patient went as a private patient, they conducted a series of tests before prescribing medication. When I asked why, the patient said the hospital probably benefits more financially from private patients. Desperate times calls for desperate measures. However, in Nigeria there a many cases where a hospital will be requesting for police report before they will attend to a dying patient. Others request a deposit before they attend to patients. However, when privileged citizens have a headache or minor bruise, they fly abroad for treatment – why? We, who lack the financial muscle must attend lack lustre, ill-equipped hospitals. Is this disgraceful situation paving the way for 2020?

EMERGENCIES

In advanced countries, everybody has access to emergency numbers, including children. In the UK, 999 is the contact for the Police, Fire and Ambulance, The United States uses 911 and in Nepal (a developing country) dialling 100 is the “help line”. When walking home one night, I saw a man lying on the street. I called the ambulance (999) and voila, it was soon on the scene. However, when growing up in Nigeria, my understanding of an ambulance was a vehicle used to convey corpses. Nevertheless, do Nigerians have access to a well-publicised emergency number? This is our right and not a privilege, is it not.

SECURITY

Terrorism and crime are international realities. Nigeria has its share of kidnapping, armed robbery, jungle justice, petty thieves and so on. However, are our police and civil defence personnel properly trained and equipped? Are our police protected? For example, how many have bullet proof vests, effective firearms, magazines, handcuffs, pepper spray, cell phone, radio, and the amazing Taser? Sadly, however, police brutality still continues – unpunished. The UK publishes incidents where police fail to protect and serve. Strict standards apply to conduct and accountable, transparent management is evident. Why can’t the government introduce a law that allow citizens and the police to gather evidence as a means of protecting themselves. For example, if police officer stops a motorist, it should be mandatory for him record his communication with motorist. The motorist too may also be allowed to do same within the law. That way, there will be adequate evidence to assist in prosecution. Worryingly, I have seen cases where military personnel beat civilians up because they tried to video cover an incident. Other cases of police force abuse occur. For example, a story is shared of how a gentleman was waiting for a cab in the middle of the night and the police approached him in their van. They asked him why he was standing there and he said he was waiting for a cab. The police then offered to drop him at his destination and collected the money for the cab. There are also other examples where people who go to the police station to report a case and they are requested to cover the transportation costs associated with the police investigation. Furthermore, with the incessant Boko Haram attacks at market squares and motor parks, the government ought to have stopped illegal hawking. Traders are supposed to be properly registered. That way people will have identities. As it is now, anybody can set up a table anywhere and start selling. How then can people help in the vigilance when there is no system to help identify insurgent criminality? Yet you find the revenue collectors going about table after table collecting payments. We are told to be security conscious but what gadgets guarantee the human rights of all – protection.

IMMIGRATION

Passports of most countries are valid for a straight ten-year period. Ours is broken into two halves. We have to renew our passport after every five years because some people in authority are making money at every renewal. The time spent on a single activity at our embassies is also discouraging. To apply for a visa to Ghana, the Benin Republic and many other African countries takes no more than 15 minutes. However, if you go to the Nigerian Embassy in the UK for a visa application or passport renewal, you can be rest assured you will spend half of your day there – on two separate days. The immigration exam scam that happened in March 2014 where scores of unemployed Nigerians lost their lives is another of abuse of our rights and privileges that has been swept under the carpet. This is not how the top twenty economies are operating and is a poor reflection on management.

EMPLOYEE WELFARE

1 Timothy 5:18 reads “…and the worker deserves his wages.” Unfortunately, in Nigeria, the government and the people appear not to know their responsibilities and their rights. Payment is a right – and on the contracted date. Why do we “the people” remain quiet about this grossly irresponsible victimization by the powerful over the less powerful? Non payment of salary can breed further corruption. It is difficult to understand why people will not be paid salaries for an upward of 3 months despite going to work. Anybody that goes to work when he/she is owed salaries for several months might be tempted to engage in corrupt practices to survive. Surely, it is economically obvious that when people are not paid their wages timeously, they will tend to look for any means necessary to be able to feed their families. Who, in the current top 2020 countries has to wait for salary payments that are many months overdue? What a shameful blot on the dignity and self-reliance of our great nation!

TRANSPORTATION

The common means of commuting in advanced countries includes bicycles (to protect the climate and the environment), bikes, airplanes, cars, buses, coaches, high speed trains, underground trains and over ground trains. Understandably, before you can drive a motor vehicle in many advanced countries, you will need to have passed theory and practical tests. In the UK, for example, the pass score for the theory test is 43 out of 50. There is also the hazard perception part of the theory test – the score pass score is 44 out of 75. This helps drivers to know road signs, be aware of others and test their alertness about safe and responsible driving. After passing the theory test then practical tests are done before a license is issued if the driver passes. Furthermore, it is illegal to drive without insurance. Insurance premiums are charged based on your location, whether you park your car in a garage or on the street, your age, your employment status, the kind of car, whether other people will drive the vehicle and so on. Insurance companies can have access to information on drivers to determine their eligibility. Penalty points on a license could lead to a ban on driving. On the contrary, this important provision is absent in Nigeria. Any Tom, Dick and Harry can get a license without any screening test or driving experience. Besides our terrible roads, it is no wonder that our road accidents remain worryingly high. 2020 seems along way off!

SUMMARY

Let us remember that WE (the people) are the customer of the government and WE deserve our rights! As stakeholders in the success of the government we must play our part – because we have paid our dues with our votes. As a shareholder in government, we the have right to information as it pertains to governance. It is the government’s responsibility to serve us. If things do not work in Nigeria, then WE (the people) are to blame because we have not called the government to accountability! Let us cease being part of the problem. Let us not continue with this lackadaisical attitude of ignorance which we have exhibited for so long. We need to continuously evaluate our leaders and in doing so we can ask “are we ready for 2020?” The evidence to hand shows that we are not ready. Let us get back on course and use our democratic power. Let us change our negative mind-set and use the power that rests in our hands! If Nelson Mandela could bring the people to action, Nigeria can follow suit. Speak up – do not shut up! Democracy is not just casting a vote – the practice demands that we hold those for whom we have voted accountable.