A fundamental mechanism of evaluating the level of civilization of modern political system is the extent at which they are organized. The state is expected to practice and promote constitutionalism, respect for the rule of law and human rights, popular participation, accountability and transparency and probity in the management of people and resources.
CRITICS of Nigeria’s adventure into civil rule have adduced many reasons for its stunted growth. They believe that the nation’s underdevelopment is a result of the failure of its public institutions.
UPSURGE in criminals activities in the country are blamed on weak security, saying it is an example of one of Nigeria’s weak public institutions.
WE however believe that public institutions are not only weak but corrupted, as there are laws in the statute book which provide for good governance, transparency and accountability.
The problem, we feel, rests on the fact that the political class hasn’t been able to separate itself from public institutions. The institutions find themselves unable to act as checks on governance and hold persons in leadership positions accountable for their misdeeds.
IF the nation truly empowers its public servants to guard the structures of its institutions, abuse of office by some politicians and their associates may be a thing of the past.
IF people in political leadership positions stop politicizing public institutions, the rules and statutes governing their bodies won’t be corrupted, and Nigerians will be good for it.
WITH the non-politicization of public institution, an Inspector General of Police could on the side of law caution a president if he wants to pervert the course of justice.
Needless to say, this is good for the nation’s development, since it will put on hold activities likely to be detrimental to nation building.
ALSO, if politicians and other stakeholders refrain from politicising public institutions, the latter will be strong enough to implement the various statues and rules enhancing good governance in the country.
WITH Nigerian public institutions left to implement rules leading to their existence, dangerous characters can be stopped in their mission to circumvent the nation’s laws for their selfish ends, leading to transparency, accountability and rancor-free nation.
HAD the Americans politicized their institutions in the recent past, former President Donald Trump would have corrupted his way back to power, leading to instability in the nation’s democracy.
WITH the non-politicisation of our public institutions, people manning them will have the power and authority to tackle corruption, which has been the bane of the country since the time of independence.
IF Nigerians stop using tribal and ethnic arguments to pollute the nation’s public institutions, they would be strengthened, making a better nation possible.
WE therefore call on all stakeholders to think less about politicising our public institutions and think more about how to enhancing them.
IF the nation’s public institutions must work, the government and other stakeholders should give public servants the need support to run these institutions.
PEOPLE should refrain from using tribal and ethnic considerations to influence the running of the public institutions in the country, since such leads to the politicisation of their operations.
PUBLIC servants on the other hand should divorce themselves from political activities, as this only leads to a perversion in the exercise of their duties.
IN addition, people who run our public institutions must curb themselves of corrupt tendencies, as these make them to break the regulations and rules governing the creation of these institutions.
ALSO, public servants should desist from looking for loopholes in the nation’s laws and statues governing their behavior, and flouting such rules, as this subsequently corrupts the system.
THE followers should be educated about strengthening public institutions, so they don’t act as a negative force in the task of enabling a livable nation.
ULTIMATELY, the media must help to enhance public institutions in the country, by educating everyone about their responsibilities towards preventing the politicisation of our public institutions.