Democracy is the best form of government but not at the expense of prudence. A one-time Information Minister, Prof. Jerry Gana once said, “If you say democracy is too costly then try anarchy”. Even though democracy is good but not at the expense of efficiency. A democracy with unbridled spending without cost effectiveness is a waste and will collapse. If in Nigeria all what democracy will involve is to spend almost all our resources to sustain the system and the actors without sustaining the people, then it is nothing but anarchy. A democracy without financial discipline will lead to a tragic end for the country.

One disturbing phenomenon since we started this 4th Republic is the amount of public resources being expended on the politicians and their cronies who in most cases are doing practically little or nothing to justify such expenses. More so, when there are no sufficient funds to execute people-oriented programs, and pay sufficiently those who are in the public service rendering the necessary services. One of the problems of the Nigerian State is the culture of waste which has permeated every facet of our national life, the Church and the Mosque (Religious) the public and private sectors, the polity, family and individual lives; but the politicians are the guiltiest.

I do know from the scriptures that anyone who squanders his resources will always be in want because he will not be able to save for the rainy day or future famine.

Besides he is short-sighted and under a curse. The Bible, the word of God tells us the story of a prodigal son in Luke Chapter fifteen, verses eleven to twenty- four, who was so prodigal that he quickly squandered his lifetime resources and began to be in want to the extent of begging and feeding with pigs. This shows the extent of poverty level a man or a country can degenerate to if he or she cultivates a culture of waste. Nigeria today is rated the ‘poverty capital’ of the world not because we do not have enough resources (in terms of material and human) but because of waste. In fact, I believe Nigeria is the most blessed country in the world today. Also, Jesus when he fed 5000 people (besides women and children) in one of His ministries on earth, ordered that the leftover be gathered and that nothing should be wasted (lost), John six, three to twelve. I do not know why he so commanded; but I do know He was trying to teach the disciples and indeed the world one of the principles for meeting needs and removing lack. Any leftover must be channeled to the areas of need. God’s principle is not that a man should always satisfy all his wants but his needs. We must understand this principle as a country for peace, equity and justice to prevail. When you hold unto what you don’t need, it is greed, and also a waste because it will lie dormant.

I think Nigeria needs to commission researchers to tell us the amount of money we are spending on governance and politicians and we will be shocked. I am beginning to doubt whether the way we are practicing our presidential system of government in Nigeria is the way it is being practiced in America where we borrowed the system. The way we practice ours in Nigeria is way too costly for us to sustain because of waste. The amount of resources Nigeria expends on her political office holders is staggering. Imagine what we spend on our President, his wife and family members; retinue of aides (officially and unofficially, directly and indirectly) including numerous Special Advisers, Special Assistants, Domestic Staff, Security Officers, etc. The same goes to the Vice President and Senate President, the Speaker, The Senators and House of Representative members, the Ministers and their aides. If you go to the Presidency, there are retinue of Political office holders apart from the Secretary of Government to be served. The same goes for Boards and Parastatals of government who mostly today are not managing these important outfits but are more or less damaging them by running them down. The same system runs through the States and Local Government levels, if not worse.

Unsubstantiated reports state that what Nigeria spends in terms of remuneration and overhead on these officeholders and politicians runs to several billions of Naira yearly and constitutes a very substantial part of our spending and annual budgets. In fact, one major reason why our political system has become so acrimonious in recent times is because politics appears to be the most profitable (lucrative) venture now in the country. Just consider the salary of a councilor and what he can do for himself alone just within one year in office and then you will see why politics has become a do-or-die affair in Nigeria. I believe politics should be a service to one’s fatherland and not a business or money-making venture. Nigeria needs sacrifice and discipline from its politicians in terms of spending, if we must sustain Democracy. The President and the National Assembly should lead by example by cutting down on their expenses and instituting a law that will compel other actors to do the same. Perhaps we will also need to patriotically re-examine our presidential system of government vis-à-vis parliamentary system which is cheaper and less cumbersome. This is what we will need the entire citizenry to consider in a national debate (referendum) in no distant future, as part of our aspiration to sustain Democracy.

Further to the above, politics should be made non-lucrative. In fact, we must go back to the era when people were begging to serve. One thing that has always encouraged waste is having access to easy money. It is generally true that you don’t value what you have that you did not work for and you can treat it anyhow! In view of the above, the Nigerian government should block all avenues of making easy money in Nigeria. Such practice of giving contracts and positions by patronage without appropriate merit and skills should be stopped. Allocations of properties, lands etc by government and those in authority to undeserving people should be discouraged. Government at all levels should introduce Social Security Systems because it is also true that when you have a lot of resources and you don’t have good use for it, it will be wasted. All graduates who have acquired skills and are ready to work should be engaged in National Projects and be given monthly stipends to sustain them. This will give them a sense of belonging and hope. In addition, all able-bodied Nigerians, particularly the youths who have raw strength should be provided avenues whereby they can channel their energies and get paid. For example, they can be engaged in social work, environmental services, road maintenance and repairs, security services, farm settlements etc. This will enable these youths have cash to invest in their own future.

Finally where there is proper accountability, waste is also discouraged. I am of the opinion that “henceforth, all public office holders beginning from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should declare their assets publicly” stating what they have, their income and how they got them. This will also reduce corruption which is the father of waste. As we usher in the new government, it is my hope and earnest prayer that we Nigerians will resolve to deal with this cancer of waste; become more hardworking and productive. This will reduce crime and social insecurity in our land. We must go beyond paying lip service to these issues.

Rev. Dr. Wole Ogunmola wrote this in 2002, and was first published in COUNTDOWN Vol. 2 No 1.

By:Countdown