Nigeria, a house of cards.

Nigeria is a house of cards and everyone is playing the ostrich.
We are a nation of people who love to talk. We love talk about the problems, issues, and even solutions. But we are also a people steeped in self deception and grand standing. We love not to act. We refuse to change or do the needful. We sacrifice the expedient on a platter of the convenient, and pecuniary. Or are we simply living in denial and self delusion of the enormity of our challenges?

The Constitution

Nigeria's constitution is seriously flawed and fraudulent. A document foisted on the people for the pleasure of a few, and meant to foster maximum and perpetuity of control. It is a document which rejects self determination, self empowerment and entrepreneurial excellence. It usurps the power of the people to subdue and fill the earth. It strips the citizens of access and use of the God given  resources in her domains. It is an instrument of rape and plunder. It is in light of this that fundamental and far reaching changes are imperative and present efforts at amendment are uninspiring.
It is taking forever to get things done.

Pseudo federalism

An immediate, and direct outflow of the constitution is our present geopolitical arrangement in the form of 36 emasculated states and an all knowing, all powerful and all benevolent federal government.  Besides the central national assembly, there is a replication of 36 state assemblies, majority of whom are at best parasitic and a drain on scare resources.
There is a proliferation and duplication of offices, structures and functions with little more than the same inefficient results to show. Political considerations trump all need for expediency, efficiency and frugality.
Interestingly, while writing this article, the central bank governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi was quoted as bemoaning the very high cost of recurrent expenditure in governance and advising a drastic reduction/cut in government bureaucracy. Aren't we simply playing the ostrich?
A six geopolitical arrangement as federating units would be ideal, with all major towns receiving attention as local government councils, and regional assemblies justifiable.
Adoption of a derivation formula of not less than 50% will foster entrepreneurship, productivity, job creation, growth and increased gross domestic product. Are we ready for this hard pill?
The present arrangement of a paternalistic federal government, and 36 dependent states is stifling, subjugating, feudalistic, shortsighted and retrogressive.

A blind National assembly

I make no pretense about my thoughts that the national Assembly is the greatest enemy of our democratic experience. I say this with all sense of responsibility.
What quality of representation do these people really provide? Do they really live within the localities they represent? Are they known, or seen addressing issues in the community? What impact have they had on the education, health and agriculture of the communities they claim to represent? Do they know and have sought to proffer solutions to local problems through representation and legislation? What fora do they meet citizens? Are they accessible to ordinary folks?  Don't they deliberately insulate themselves from their constituents by remaining aloof and incommunicado until elections? ( there are no open phone lines, emails, or functional physical or post office address for communication with most). Don't they operate like cult personalities, for the privileged?
Among other things, it is their role to engage their citizen constituents, provide a platform for them to be heard, engage the executive on developmental projects, and facilitate laws to enrich and strengthen proper functioning of local governance. These are an afterthought unfortunately.
Secondly, i recall with regret, the ignoble role the national assembly played in the first and second terms of obasanjo with the incessant bickering over mundane issues of money, and power. There was a megalomaniac faceoff by the then speaker  with the presidency over some frivolous independence of the house.
Precious, and valuable times to have collaborated with a well meaning president was dissipated on personal aggrandizement and selfish pursuits rather than the enrichment of the life of Nigerians.
Again, in the fifth assembly, a golden opportunity to give the people her own constitution and move the nation ahead was lost due to the perpetual lust for power of some individuals. Of course with connivance of the assembly.
A replay of the forgoing is currently playing out, with a speaker who cannot be whipped in line by his party. Indeed, his emergence is evidence of the rebellion within; a show of shame.
Rather than synergize and work in tandem with the presidency, they are fighting a battle of egos.
Thirdly, the national Assembly's so called constituency projects is at best a distraction. It is a duplication of the functions of the executive and deters from their role to scrutinize the executive, pass laws to block loopholes, and strengthen systems and processes. They are meant to hold the executive accountable.

Corruption and the judiciary

Our current fight against corruption will be little more than lip service unless certain drastic measures are taken, and this includes the creation of ad hoc/special courts to quickly dispense with such cases. The greatest impediment to the anti corruption drive is the slow and unsure dispense of justice. If only justice were swift; if only justice were sure.... Again, the national Assembly, with powers to create and appropriate funds for these ad hoc courts fail to exercise these powers. 
With the issue of corruption reaching alarming proportions, the nauseating revelations in the pensions office, and paralyzing effects to our national life inter alia, one would have expected a national emergency declaration, with the NASS facilitating the anti corruption drive through various acts and edicts. What happened to the assets forfeiture bill? Whistle blowers act? What are its provisions? Why not ad hoc anti corruption courts? Oh, of course, with Lawangate, Hembegate,  and the proverbial banana peel, need I say more?
Our current statutes on criminal Justice places the burden of proof on the plaintiff, rather than the other way round which makes it extremely difficult to instigate investigations into fraudulent activities because you are required to provide proof of the illegal activity.  What developed nation does this?
Nass would do well to revise these provisions and empower investigative agents to scrutinize claims and allegations, with or without proof as part of their oversight functions.

Poverty and inequality

The developed nations of the world who we are often wont to emulate take very seriously issues of citizenship. There are social security or welfare schemes for the people -the aged, disabled, temporarily unemployed and poor. All that is required is citizenship.
Also, food banks are located in various large cities to easy the suffering of the masses, and periodically replenished from fundings from the government, donor organizations and individuals. They are opened on regular predictable schedules and individuals with pressing needs can at least feed until situation gets better.
Food stamps and coupons are also issued to the 'poor' for redemption at designated stores etc.
These initiatives serve to lessen the inequality between the rich and poor, provide succor for citizens, ensure a responsive and responsible government and helps cut off government slack.

A broken health system

Nigeria's healthcare is a hollow of itself and another index of our collective failure. Systems are decrepit. Processes are slow. Our hospitals neither inspire confidence nor exude pride.
In training personnel, there is an undue emphasis on theoretical and academic exercise to the detriment of skill, practice and proficiency. A number of fellows who recently returned from India confirmed this inordinate emphasis.
The national health insurance scheme is neither universal nor seriously promoted.
Hospitals are reduced to mere consulting clinics where consultants spend their time, no longer taking care of patients, teaching or training resident doctors, but politicking and writing promotional papers. Their headship of health facilities have not exactly enhanced care. Shall we not return to the days of healthcare managers?
There are no effective structures or organization for access to healthcare in rural areas. Primary care in the hinterlands are non existent since skilled personnel are not encouraged to move to such places. Tertiary facilities are the only ones with a modicum of organization, located in large cities.
The consequence are the increasing medical tourism to India, Germany and the UK, the total loss of faith in the system and high morbidity and mortality rates.

Ain't we simply a nation of jokers? Isn't it a miracle our house of cards hasn't come crashing down?
'If the foundation be destroyed, what shall the righteous do?'

Timi Babatunde MD
doctimilehin@yahoo.com