As Nigeria is set for new political leaders

 “We must effectively collect VAT and increase our agricultural output, work with the Federal Government to make broadband infrastructure available all over the country”

— Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the induction of the newly elected governors on April 29, 2019

May 1 is commemorated every year as the International Workers’ Day! I wholeheartedly rejoice with Nigerian workers for creating wealth and keeping governance going in the country. However, it is also a time for sober reflections. While I commend the Nigerian workers’ union for the successful negotiation of the new minimum wage of N30,000 for the workers, the major challenge remains that of implementation by a section of the organised private sector, state and local governments.

In preparation for the May 29 inauguration of the president-elect and governors-elect as well as the June 9 inauguration of the 9th National Assembly, a series of capacity building initiatives are being organised for the country’s new leaders. The senators and their House of Representatives counterparts were the first to be trained in how to deliver on their new national assignment. In the last 72 hours, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum also organised a two-day induction course for old and newly elected governors while their wives are today being trained in etiquette and protocols. Among the high calibre resource persons at the event included a former governor of New Mexico, in the US, Bill Richardson and a former governor of Maryland State, Martin O’Malley.

On Tuesday, April 30, 2019, I was a guest of the Federal Radio Corporation of   Nigeria on its discussion programme, “Politics Nationwide”. On the programme, we set the agenda for the new governors. Among the challenges I highlighted as facing these new governors include security, payment of the N30,000 new minimum wage, economic diversification, inter-governmental relations, and the debt burden. As the saying goes, there is no problem without solution, even if it means living with the problem.

As I pointed out to the new governors, they did not inherit the position they are about to take. They fought tooth and nail to win their elections.  Some of them even had to go through supplementary elections before emerging victorious. They therefore cannot turn around to be lamenting about the parlous state of the finance of their states after inauguration. They asked for the job! For 90 days, they went round their states to plead and beg the voters to support their ambition to govern the state. As the Yoruba saying goes, “You do not task yourself on an assignment and be crying about it being difficult.”

I know that a lot has been said to the governors-elect at the two-day NGF induction event. Their colleagues from the US and those who just won a re-election have shared experiences with the first-timers. They should put the knowledge they have acquired to good use as the tasks ahead of them are Herculean.  Vice President Osinbajo was very much on point in his speech that human capital development and bridging of the infrastructural deficit are very pivotal for the new governors to prioritise.

In addition, the new governors must shun corruption, personal aggrandisement, profligacy, nepotism, bigotry, and parochialism. I know many of them spent billions of naira on their elections and will want to recoup their political investment. Despite that, they should know that it will not be a tenable excuse in court if they get caught for corrupt practices. It is important for them to live by example and work for the national interest. They must prioritise payment of workers’ salaries and are enjoined to diversify their state economies.  That is how they can boost their Internally Generated Revenue.

As I suggested at a radio station on Tuesday, they can apply to the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals to obtain licence to explore the mineral resources in their states. This they can do in partnership with foreign and local technical partners under a Public-Private Partnership agreement. Entertainment (film, music, comedy) is a good money spinner that state governments can also explore to boost their revenues. The same is applicable for sports, tourism, Information Communications Technology and agriculture, to mention but a few. Rather than introducing new taxes, they should be thinking about bringing more people, hitherto not paying tax, into the tax net.

To overcome the daunting security challenge, it is imperative that they work collaboratively with their fellow governors, federal as well as the local governments.  Community policing is very important just as there is an urgent need to equip the security agents with modern equipment. Intelligence gathering and the use of technology are very important as well.

There is no gainsaying that good governance is the way to overcome all the highlighted challenges. Unemployment and poverty play critical role in the worsening insecurity in the country.   Rather than the lingering high cost of living, what is needed now is the promotion of high standard of living.  To achieve that, the three arms of government, executive, legislature and judiciary,   and the three tiers of government namely, federal, state and local, must work harmoniously together.