BY OJIGBE SOLOMON
 |
| Rauf Aregbesola |
The fact that the
second tier government otherwise known as the state government owes its workers
is no longer news. This is given that several states across the Nigerian state
are enmeshed in these stupendous acts of perjury. As at last count states like
Osun,Benue,Plateau ,Abia ,Oyo,Rivers and Cross river owe their workforce some
between the tune of 2-7 months as the case maybe. These has succeeded in
institutionalizing the culture of perjury among workers which does not speak
well of our fledging economy.
What is however, most
alarming on these issue is that the suppose states governors owing workers
still lives in affluence and exhibit financial recklessness at its peak. Some
if not all in all states of the federation, have by act of omission or
commission chosen to be docile/redundant. They let the abundant mineral
resources in their respective state lay low and untapped and would rather buy
into the ideal of turning themselves into an “alamajiri “of some sort to the
federal government by coming to Abuja every month cap in hand with their
begging bowl the commissioners of finance of their respective state to collect
their share from the federation account. These do not help productivity in
state.
Similarly the state
governors largely prefer to preoccupy themselves with political patronizes:
praise singers, bootlickers alike, expanding Huge resources on them probably to
garner unnecessary political clout as
against footing salaries allowances of civil servant in their state .
Other prime factors
that can be adduced for these negative
political culture ranges from gross corruption particularly in the oil and gas
sector ,mono economy as well as over dependence on the federal government ,fall
in the price of oil in the international market, ineffective internally
generated revenue (IGR) mechanism, some fraught
by fraud were it exist ;weak legislature, poor management of treasury
,self-aggrandizement among several others.
Persistence of these slowly
of these malaise slowly but steady
translate into decimated civil service populated by paupers some so chronic to
the extent that they go begging .The decimation of the service further impede
on staff productivity because at this stage monetization is at its lowest ebb.
It further engenders inequality in development across the states of the
federation particularly among the indebted state.
Invariably strike
action/labour dispute, grudges to work and duty becomes the hallmark of state
captured in these categories. To get out of this anguish state governors must
see issues bordering on staff salaries and general welfare of its workforce as
a priority and must be so treated. Similarly, state should be encouraged to
look inward, invest in area of comparative strength may be based on their
physical environment or mineral deposit and boost their economy in lieu.
All leakages within
the value chain of governance that would aid and abet corruption must be
blocked to free in more cash into government coffers while cubing the excess of
political patronage to mitigate wastage. Institutionalization of a robust IGR system to argument federal allocation may
also productive as these will enhance that cash are adequately mopped up within
the system to aid the running of derivable from government.
Legislature as an arm
of government must be strengthening across the states so as to be strategically
positioned to carryout effective over sight on the executives. These way silent questions can be asked
about the running of government
business and elicit appropriates answers where tenable. Prudent management of
state treasury and altruistic disposition by the governors remain a worthy
panacea to get out of these jam.
It is hoped that if these measures are
religiously adhere to the tendency of state government turning themselves to an “almagiris” would be checkmated, these
indeed portrays a good omen for our economy
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