Policy changes that will positively impact the Nigerian nation
By Oloye Emeka
Often, we like to present ourselves as exemplars of good virtue when in fact, given the opportunity and resources, we will fall into the same pit as others and probably dig ourselves deeper. This is the case of the average Nigerian citizen in relation to the average politician, policy- and lawmaker or anyone in the spotlight for that matter.
Virtually every Nigerian person speaks very low of the public office holders and berates them for their misuse, misappropriation and mismanagement of public funds, the creation of horrible policies in addition to the indiscriminate flouting and thwarting of existing laws as long as it suits their purposes. These reactions are, quite frankly, justified. However, in the microcosmic communities where power and influence are sought and held, these same traits that are gravely fought against are flagrantly exhibited.
The pattern here is that the only things that are considered wrong or unjust by the mass of people are only thought of in that manner because of how deeply and personally they are affected by them. The solution to this is embedded in the said pattern: create and implement policies whose outcome will affect the ones who create them. The rationale behind this is quite simple — the effects of these policies seem to be far removed from those who make them. For instance, creation and implementation of these three policies will drastically improve the lives of the general population:
1. Setting the age limit of political aspirants and candidates at 35 (min) and 60 (max).
2. Ensure that every child of each electoral aspirant, elected official or public office holder must attend public educational institutions within the country
3. Ensure that they and their families shall only be receiving health care from the public health care facilities.
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Here is how these legislations will radically better the Nigerian nation. Setting the age limit at thirty five ensures that the aspirant is not too young and, therefore, will not be galvanised by ideological exuberance alone without the counsel of age and experience. Also, at that age, it is most likely that they will have children who will be adversely affected by poor policy formulation and so they will better temper their zeal.
One reason why companies do not hire above a certain age and even go as far as enforcing retirement after a certain age is health (especially mental) decline. In fact, Lisabi, the father of all Egba people was martyred because his age had started to cause him to make poor decisions. It tells on a nation then, when people who are deemed mentally unfit for employment in companies run the affairs of that nation.
Setting the maximum age of active political participation at 60 years of age also ascertains that the youth population are given a fair run at governing their nation. Nigeria has an alarming statistics for youthful unemployment, being ranked among the top five nations with youth population unemployment.
If this age becomes the mandatory maximum candidacy age, it can be hoped that other sectors will follow suit thereby making space for the younger ones to be gainfully employed and the older ones blissfully retired or engaged in private practice or consultative roles exclusively.
There are those who will argue for equality and anti-agism. However, since there is a minimum age for candidacy, it seems only right that there is a maximum age as well. This is especially because in Nigeria, many of the leaders who are currently serving in positions of power have been in power since they themselves were much younger even before the onset of the fourth republic and it is only right that they give way for others whose lives are more in tune with the times to hold power.
It is speculated that retirement may be a greater cause of health decline than active service. In as much as this may be true, political office is not a person’s family’s heirloom. It is true that people who are younger and older than the specified age can also be perspicacious; however, they are the exception not the rule. For instance, it is only a man of honour who will admit that leadership responsibilities have become overwhelming and retire as a result.
This is something that the Benedict XVI, former leader of the Vatican and the whole Roman Catholic Church did. Yet we know that, particularly as it relates to the Nigerian nation, this is also definitely not the rule but the exception.
As earlier noted, being of the said age, the officials and aspirants will have established families which, in most cases, will have fruits of the womb. If these children are made to attend public schools in the country, there is no way that the funding as well as the curriculum, teaching strategies, grading systems along with the extracurricular activities for public education will not improve.
This is one of the most practical solutions to the ever-receding educational standards. Imagine that the president of the senate has a child who attends a grammar school somewhere in Abuja with the children of the fish seller who lives down the road and both their academic futures depend on how well the school is run and how much funding it receives.
It is highly unlikely that the lawmaker will jeopardise his child’s future by siphoning and diverting funds meant for the educational sector. In addition, the knowledge that aggrieved adults have untethered access to their children will require that the states’ Chief Security Officers ensure the safety of all other children by staffing, equipping and empowering the police force and other government agencies so that they do their jobs well and there will even be fewer people willing to live lives of crime to begin with.
This is a policy that Finland practices and that has made them exemplary in the educational sector worldwide. Although they have absolutely no private schools, the presence of private schools will boost the economy and guarantee that anyone who intends to start up such a venture will be offering much more than the bare minimum in order to stand a fighting chance.
The same thing applies to healthcare. If they themselves and the people who they love are obligated by law to receive health care within the country’s borders, at public health care centres and hospitals, the health care providers and general staff will be better paid; there will be world class, state-of-the-art facilities and equipment at their disposal. Skilled medical professionals who are forced to leave the country will have more reasons to remain in their country and patriotism will not be synonymous to foolishness.
There is a reason why medical professionals migrate to countries like the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, to mention a few. The funding of the world’s healthiest country, according to research — Singapore, is attributed to the magnanimous government subsidies provided for health care.
If doctors need extra training, indigenous doctors can be flown out to get the required training or experts can be brought in to mentor the staff on ground. These experts can then be placed at top of specialist hospitals which will then be located in at least one state per geopolitical zone of the country so that at least each zone has ease in reaching that service. It will also provide avenues for people to visit other parts of the country and integration will not only be encouraged but practically mandatory when the services that one zone or state cannot provide, another will.
This will ensure that road networks and other transport infrastructure will be in tip-top shape. In addition, the economy of the country will be more diversified because there will be more people visiting other parts of the country, knowing that it is safe and convenient to travel to other parts of the country irrespective of their preferred travel method.
Knowing that lack of employment is leading cause of insecurity, and with the lives of their loved ones at stake, gainful employment opportunities will be created and favourable policies will be put in place to encourage private sector investments.
For example, taxing corporations and businesses more than individuals will practically pry the coffers of these corporations open so that they pay their workers well, knowing that the government will take much of their profit in tax anyways. In both cases, the country benefits because of the increased tax returns in addition to the increased purchasing power and general improvement in the standards of living of employed individuals.
Senior citizens will be encouraged to retire early so that those who have the propensity and the strength to commit crimes will be unable to. Pensions will be paid in full and on time so that these senior citizens have fewer financial reasons to look for work, and consequently, fewer reasons to be in competition with the younger generation.
These are some ways that simple legislations, when passed into law and implemented, will significantly improve the lives of the citizens. As earlier proposed, policies such as these are made by those who want the best for the citizens. Nevertheless, in a case where the agony of the citizens do not seem to matter to those entrusted with their lives when they were voted in, the fence have to be brought down so that the ruling class can be made to experience the same reality as the masses in order that their eyes may be opened to how the lawn on the other side have become overrun by thorns and thistles.
Oloye Emeka wrote from Lagos