Merit List and Political Heavyweights List: How Nepotism Has Sabotaged the Struggle for National Development -By Adeleke Azeez Olalekan

Just recently, I was chanced to have a verbal chat with a retired civil servant who has served his fatherland diligently and passionately in years back. A seasoned and highly achieved Nigerian scholar.

I enquired about the state of employment for graduates in the last 30 years. He said, Lekan, the truth is that, Nigeria was not as polluted like the way it is now.

As a Nigerian graduate, especially when you are outstanding, you are rest assured to be employed in no distant time. Even non-graduates who wished to work with the government; State or Federal did so without stress or recourse to those in the seats of power.

There was nothing like quota system that is being practiced in the country today. Nothing like National Assembly slots, Political party slots, political leaders slots and all sorts of nonsensical acts displayed shamelessly in the Nigerian employment sector. In fact, employment was mainly based on merit.

In Nigeria today, nepotism is more treacherous than corruption and it’s a huge threat to national development.

It’s satirical that family ties, political affiliations, cultural similarities, social class, ethno-religious affinity and other supposedly secondary variables are key reasons to getting government appointments, scholarships, promotions, employments, contracts, and other opportunities meant for the general public at equal right. What’s the hope of qualified common Nigerians with no such aforementioned nepotistic factors?

At the top positions in government, nepotism comes to play in selecting heads of ministries, department and other government agencies.

Thus, having, for instance, a trained medical doctor heading a ministry whose core duties are no close to medical responsibilities.

The word “connection” is one of the most popular words used daily by Nigerians as it is as key as to the importance of getting something done in Nigeria.

In so many cases, scholarships, employments, and some basic entitlements of Nigerian citizens have been awarded to some people who did not in some instances undergo interview process because of “connection” while others with even much more qualities, readiness, zeal and qualifications are discarded.

Every jobless, hopeless and helpless Nigerian jump on every job portal striving hard to be employed. Little did we know that some government job opportunities are only posted online for publicity sake. The opportunities have been shared among the political heavyweights, party loyalists and leaders, community leaders, at times, slots are being given to NURTW leaders. What a country!

Again, what’s the hope of the qualified youths with no connection in getting jobs in Nigeria? How do we expect national development when appointments are based on connection and not capacity and qualifications?

Recently, there were reports that even the palliative and the purported Covid-19 relief funds were shared mainly on connection basis.

A friend of mine made it to the final stage of an employment process. With his qualifications and added qualities, he was so confident of getting the job. Surprisingly, he was asked, after commending him for his outstanding curriculum vitae, who do you know here? He said no one. They promised to get back to him and till today, nobody has gotten back to him.

We have lost many brilliant, intelligent and innovative Nigerians to foreign countries who should have significantly contributed to the course of nation building because of nepotism and bad leadership.

The situation is extremely abysmal that the minds of the Nigerian undergraduates have been adulterated. Thus, many wonder why they should be serious about their studies when there is no assurance of getting employed even with magnificent class of degree.

This condition has resulted to many young promising innovators, nation builders, achievers and great leaders engaging in acts of unprintable social vices while they should have been ordinarily employed for their impressive qualities.

Nepotism is a serious threat to our democracy and a peril to national development.

We can’t be fighting corruption while paying no attention to the damages of nepotism in the country. Every serious government should also prioritize the fight against nepotism and opacity in every aspect of government as this will give birth to quality leadership and productive administration aimed at national development in the country.

Adeleke Azeez Olalekan
Nigerian Writer and Youths Development Strategist.
adelekeolalekan2000@yahoo.com