INTRODUCTION
-RETURN OF THE STUDENTS ‘LOAN SCHEME, APPOINTMENT OF SERVICE CHIEFS, OIL SUBSIDY REMOVAL AND ECHOES OF CALLS FOR RESTRUCTURING AS BACKGROUND/GUIDE)
On May 29,2023 – over two months now, SenatorBola Ahmed Tinubu was sworn- in as the 16th President of Nigeria. According to Media reports, the inaugural ceremony was held against the background of a ” fractured nation,an ailing economy and spiraling insecurity,disputed elections by the opposition parties, fears of unrest. deep divisions,general hardships that would have made other societies crumble (CNN). As observed by CNN, the new president saw his swearing- in ceremony as a “sublime moment where the prospect of a better future merges with our our improved capacity to create that future’. This essay explores the first two months of President Tinubu administration against some of his policy measures such as removal of oil subsidy, return of the students ‘ Loans scheme etc that had generated conflicting reactions, doubts and serious concerns about leadership, management and governance practices in Nigeria. Just what is happening?
Evidently the task ahead of the new administration is gargantuan : unifying a highly divided country, fixing decaying infrastructure and building new ones, feeding a very hungry population, settling over” $103billion debt’, dealing with “high level of inflation of about 24.08% highest in ten years” (News Direct16-08-2923 f/p), “high rate of unemployment”, “heavy reliance on dwindling oil revenues” , curbing “the exodus of young Nigerians from the country” – “a brain – drain crisis known a Japa or escape”, solving “social problems such as inadequate access to education, health care, checking widespread poverty, insecurity, bridging the “yawning gap between the rich and the poor”, “gender inequality” “restoring the loss of confidence , hope and faith in the country and and many more issues to tackle.
Some have blamed the low performance in nation building in Nigeria on poor structure, colonial factor etc but the real culprit has been elite’s failure in leadership,management, governance and Justice over time. The traits are visible today.For instance there had been serious communication problem with the new administration, uncomfortable distance from the populace and reluctance to consult before acting. The demand for restructuring are signs of of dissatisfaction and a yearning for better deal. These are leadership, management governance issues that could hinder progress- if not timely checked .
It is over two months since the inauguration. To some people, two months may look too short a period for an evaluation exercise of this nature. It may be too “early on creation day” of this administration. However as the wise men would say “early to bed, early to rise”. The leadership and management steps we have seen so far are enough to offer some suggestions in the national interests.The earlier the new administration started making the right administrative and management steps, the better for the country and thus for all of us .Nigeria has had a long history of floppy efforts in nation building.
Many things have happened since the swearing-in ceremony.These include the return of the students Loan scheme, appointment of Service Chiefs, removal of oil subsidy, calls for restructuring, the devaluation of the Naira and ultimatums to the coups makers in Niger Republic etc .Some of the actions here will serve as the basis of our evaluative reflection. On the whole, the first two months of the Tinubu presidency produced a mixed grill of hope and worry. Within the same period ,president Tinubu received praises and flacks almost on equal doses.
The president’s words and actions are important because they provide useful insight to the nature of leadership and management in society. Generally leaders influence their followers to go in one direction or the other. What they say and how they say them could either make a success or failure of a program. While President Tinubu’s words and actions so far show what should be done or avoided to move the Nation forward, the president should be more mindful about how he communicates with the public in future.
For instance as elaborated below, while Effective communication is of critical importance to the success of any change management,the cursory and extemporaneous manner Mr President announced the removal of oil subsidy was inappropriate or unsuitable for the occasion . It made what has long been unpopular popular, and thus turned what was obviously a toxic case almost everyone was tired of because of its failure and pains, and no one was proud to be associated with because of its corruption into a rallying point for collective criticism of the State and nation- wide agitation against the government.
While some of the president’s actions have been warmly applauded and others severely criticized by the public, the surrounding issues raise some questions. For instance how best do we tackle the identified problems of the country today? Which way to go forward? What is to be done? Are the steps taken so far by President Tinubu reassuring or not? Are there management lapses and what lessons for policy making and implementation? What we see most is not poverty of vision but poor execution- reflecting age -long problem of the country.
Nigeria has had many beautiful plans but lacked due executive capacity to get things done as planned. As one administration ends and another commences its journey, it is proper to draw attention to some of the anomalies that had hindered nation building efforts in Nigeria over time. The goal of this exercise is not to criticize but to show how leadership style and management approach can make or mar a program.The main purpose of the essay is to call for effective nation building and to caution against the obvious but often repeated policy mis – focus in Nigeria by concentrating more attention on structure than on people. It is aimed also at helping to set agenda for a new leader or government today.
The essay stresses the necessity and importance of effective nation building today and the need for good government through able leadership and effective management. It offers notes on issues for successful nation building by a new administration in order to correct many sinful mistakes of the past such as placing regional interests above national interest, building regional identities, loyalties and agendas.It is a call for effective nation building by focusing more attention on the human side of the problem of the country.In the course , the paper shows how Inappropriate leadership style and wrong management approach can ruin a good plan and disappoint expectations .
Our approach to work here is eccletic. We look at some actions, arguments, speeches against historical fact, ,empirical evidences , some concepts, principles and theories of leadership, management etc within the two months under reference to draw some conclusions including the need for sound leadership, effective management, good governance and equitable Justice.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS
Nigerians have always expected high performance from their governments to wipe out poverty, unemployment, misery , injustice from their country. The government of Tinubu is not different. The citizens expect much from it. But the problem is the high expectations by the citizens from their governments had been disappointed for so long.This reflection is done partly against the frustration associated with age-long poor performance in nation building characterized by disunity, poverty, ethnic and religious extremism, insecurity, grand corruption, large scale unemployment, ,banditry, terrorism etc and the obvious lack of government’s inability or capacity and political will to confront them head on over the years. In particular the immediate past administration took some extreme provincial and anti national unity decisions that severely threatened the unity of the country, frustrated genuine efforts in nation building and shook citizens’ faith in their country.
Against a very disappointing and uninspiring past citizens yearned for positive change during and after the 2023 General Election.Public expectations and hope for better life were therefore high. Senator Bola Ahmed emerged as the president.Expectedly the populace rested on his shoulders their collective wish for a better life. President Tinubu enjoys favorable track record of performance as Governor of Lagos state. Many hold fond memories of him as one who laid the solid foundation for the robust financial status of Lagos state today .He is generally believed to be a goal – getter in many respects with knowledge , skills and all what it takes to reset the country aright. The CNN analysts reflected the the general expectations of majority Nigerians when they observed that , “reviving the fortunes of Africa’s largest economy is a critical challenge that Tinubu must immediately tackle head on” .
.According To Remi Adekoya who believes that President Tinubu is a “pro business” leader, the president should “be able to attract foreign direct investments” and even much m because “he holds the key to solving most of the issues of the country today” . Therefore he should “kick- start the economy and improve the finances of the state”. To Filani Akinkugbe Tinubu must “work to build the political and social capital”of the country (http so://www.google.com/… ). His ability to lead was not in doubt.
President Tinubu appears to appreciate the enormity of the task before him.On inaugural day, he promised “to unite the country” and so invited all Nigerians to “join him in realizing the historic national progress we can make by working together” in the national interest. He started well as his appointment of the Service and Chiefs, Restoration of the Students Loan Scheme could show.However some of his pronouncements such as the removal of oil subsidy, ultimatum to Niger Republic the free fall of the national currency- the Naira betray serious problem of communication at the top and cast serious doubts about the ability to fulfill for a better life shared aspiration here.
Life has become far more difficult and nasty than hither-to.And there have been cries of hardship instead of joy due large and to poor communication skills. According to experts effective communication is key to the success of any program and it is a must skill for any leader who wants to excel. As they say in Esanland, the king makes no mistakes but he could stumble or hit his leg against a stubborn stones to learn some lessons in pains. Tinubu or any leader for that matter must not disappoint public expectations for better life. The problem of poor communication observed in the first two months of Tinubu administrator here may be a case of “the rich also cries”, but it is serious enough to warrant public concern and to shake the confidence of many citizens. It must be roundly checked. This is necessary because failed expectations could dampen human spirits, damage reputation and erode confidence, collective faith and hope in society.
IDEOLOGICAL CONFLICT , THE POSITIVE ROLE OF THE STATE
There is the ideological factor the president must consider- the role of the state in nation building.Ideology matters in Nation building According to relevant literature “Ideology is a set of opinions or beliefs of a group or an individual,…set of political beliefs or ideas that characterize a particularly culture” (http so://.vocabulary.com>ideology). Also it is ‘a system of ideas and ideals especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy” .Ideologue is “an adherent of an ideology especially the me who is uncompromising or dogmatic “. To a very reasonable extent, Nigeria could be said to have been captured by some ideologues for the capitalist ideology.
For example, since the return of democracy in 1999- in fact since the 1980s, the role of the state has been severely relegated to the background in Nigeria in the name of an ideology that has proved very inappropriate and injurious to our Economy. As we write there is serious conflict between those who abhor state participation in economic affairs and those who prefer it. Sadly the trend was visible during the first two months of Tinubu Administration as the devaluation of the Naira and removal of the oil subsidy with their suffocating effect could show. There is the debate whether it is wise to devalue the Naira when there are no goods and services for exportation to the international markets whether there are markets at the moment to warrant market driven ideology at the moment.
While Nigeria cannot afford to continue to walk rigidly on such barren, hurtful ideological path much longer, there has been a continuation of the unreasonable, uncomfortable and unhealthy bias against state Participation in economic is affairs. What can best be deduced from his actions within the first two months of his presidency is that Mr President is more pro – market, pro west than otherwise today.With all the good intention of Mr president, he should not go the extreme on this lane because doing so will not serve his country well. It is a continuation of the old bad game on the same wrong road which left national problems unsolved and thus recurring year in and out.
Rather the new administration should make conscious effort to return to the era of scientific planning informed by ideology of mixed economy.Basically, Nigeria was better off when she ran an ideology of mixed economy. That is the path to go. And here there should be no room for any form of monopoly by either the state or the market. The individual who has the resources to invest in the economy should be allowed to operate unhindered by law while the state continues with developmental role especially by filling the gap the private investors are unwilling or inpatient or incapable of filling.
For a non- industrialized country such as ours the state is the most reliable tool of national development. The state was created essentially for the security and development of society and to set things right any time they go wrong. And that purpose has not changed in spite of vigorous efforts by the capitalist countries and institutions to redefine that role for unholy reasons. The market approach is exploitative, unjust, irrational, inefficient in the allocation of resources, wasteful , narrow minded and concerned with only the “survival of the fittest”. Generally, there is something very dishonest about the Market based ideology. Its advocates abhors state participation in economic actives, but when the market fails they invite the state to fix it. It is the greatest deceit and most illogical thought ever.
It has been observed that the words and actions of leaders and managers are important because ” leaders create the environment for the enterprise” ,for the nation to flourish. Their “values influence the direction of the firm or nation”. Values are said to be “the permanent beliefs that guide the actions and behavior of employees, citizens in fulfilling the organization ‘s aims. And they “form the ideology that permeates every day decisions”(p190 Koontz & co 2006).
This is one of the reasons we are worried because of Nigerian leaders flirtation or even love with market-driven ideological approach to nation building in Nigeria since the 1980s. The market values might have served the interest of other countries such as the USA well but not Nigeria. The toxic, unhealthy, unpatriotic and unreasonable nature of the market values pushed in Nigeria by Nigerian leaders do not recommend them here.They are not the kind of values we should deliberately promote to guide and influence the direction of the country and decisions of the citizens.
Our experience with it especially its corruptive influence since the mid 1980s when the structural Adjustment Program was introduced by General Babaginda with its severe harmful effects including large scale unemployment, the devaluation and and crash of the Naira did not recommend it.We cannot forget in a hurry the privatization and down -sizing fever of the 2000s under President Obasanjo that made us sell public enterprises and other assets under the false belief that the” state has no business with doing business”. It sent many people out of gainful employment, caused general hardship and misery in families across country.Nor can we afford to forget the paralyzing pains of the removal of the oil subsidy and the stab on the Naira by the present administration.
The truth is that the market approach to nation building in Nigeria has always had corrosive and destabilizing effect on the country. The trouble is that some ideological values can win , others can repel support of citizens. The task of leadership is to identify which type is most appropriate to his environment. We should avoid those that harm us and promote those that aid our individual and national development.
The market approach has been most hurtful to our economy .As they say the “taste of the pudding is in the eating”. We have tasted the market approach and found it mostly sour and unpalatable . Common sense demands we look for something sweeter or better. We have stuck to it not because we found it good but because some people in some distant land are say it is good for us even as it kills us steadily.
Many informed citizens believe that some of the actions of the government today such as the removal of the oil subsidy, the devaluation of the Naira leading to its free flowing and fast falling are informed by market values which among others had brought instability and hardship to all parts of the country. People are already wondering which agenda was the new government pursuing- Nigerian or the world bank or IMF? Such thought could be hurtful to team spirit that is badly needed to for oneness and common sense of unity of purpose
We need sane values that cater for both the strong and weak in society, that satisfy the fittest and empower the weak to be fit as well. In word we need a caring and careful State that would do the needful through scientific planning to promote national unity, industrialization, inclusiveness, citizenry participation, high sense of patriotism, nationalism, altruism, equitable justice, strong national identity, loyalty and sentiment, render good government and discourage corruption.All these are possible through able leadership, effective management of resources, good governance equitable Justice and rule of law by the political elite in government.
I do not mind the ideological orientation of any person as long as it is not against national interest of the country and the health of citizens and attendant withdrawal of their support for policies. The present ideological thrust of government has failed this test so far thereby warranting a rethink .We must act positively to reduce anxieties and doubt, promote a higher sense of patriotism, nationalism, diligent commitment to the national cause, strengthen collective faith in the country and raise high hope for a better tomorrow. The fast falling of the Naira should be checked.It should be protected by the state as part of our national pride. We can learn much from the Aluko approach to the national currency issue during the Abacha leadership.
The government should allow the State to play its leadership role in nation building. Mr President should rethink government’s present market -bias . Here he should take a cue from the policy alchemy used by President Clinton of the US and Prime Minister Tony Blair of the U.K. in reviving their countries’ economies on assumptions of office. To recall, Clinton with deep roots in market values brought much social values to bear on his economic policy. On the hand, Blair of the Labour Party with deep roots in socialism injected heavy doses of market values and principles to Labour government’s policies. Both countries prospered to the betterment of their society and joy of their fellow Citizens.
President Tinubu should reappraise the gargantua national task and the nature of the problems before him and without being a slave to any ideological block and carve a more robust role for the Nigerian state. No great nation can afford to leave its economy to the vicissitudes of the market or the inflexibility of dictatorship and unfreedom of centralized planning of the socialist system. The best tool available to Mr president today for the promotion of national unity, meaningful development and sensible industrialization of the country is the state which had been abandoned or misused for a long time now. The leadership of today needs to use all the resources of the state to jump-start the rebuilding or repairing of our country ,the promotion of patriotism, nationalism and strong national identity and loyalty, fight poverty, unemployment, underdevelopment, corruption, insecurity etc.What we want is what works for Nigeria. History should serve as a guide here.
[To be continued.]
● Dr John Abhuere @ Centre for Child Care and Youth Development,(CCYD) Abuja.
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