Political Appointments In Nigeria: Competence Or Compensation -By Mukhtar Garba Kobi

The 2023 general election in Nigeria has come and passed, resilient candidates from different political parties have contested and some that eventually emerged victorious are now the only hopes for ordinary citizens. After that, one of the vital factors for the success or failure of an administration is mostly determined by set of people that surround leaders. The cabinets range from Ministers and Heads of Agencies at Federal levels, Commissioners and Advisers to Governors at State levels as well as Members of Local Councils in Local Government levels.

Indubitably, appointees are like eyes of leaders with which they see where, how and what to do, appointing quack or unqualified personals therefore is like giving a farmer tools to conduct surgery. However, those in the cabinets are usually appointed whereas some based on their professional contributions, some because of their loyalty while others due to financial supports during campaigns. Administering the affairs of Ministry, Agency or Department of governments require people that have vast experiences, bureaucratic skills, ability to work under pressure, etc.

Political God-Fatherism is what has been dragging Nigeria aback as influential elites invest huge amounts before the election which come along with conditions, some of the conditions include giving them freewill to appoint whoever they like in some offices, channeling specific funds to them on monthly or annual basis or corruption charges on them will be dropped when the candidate win election. These and more are what led to the hatching of merciless leaders that mostly use idle youths as thugs while sending their wards abroad to best institutions.

The high rates of poverty, unemployment and criminalities are as result of appointing incompetent individuals, they divert funds meant for eradicating poverty or implementing projects, commercialize government’s jobs whereby only those with money get and sponsor assassins to cause unrest to communities that challenge them. Also, disregard to the rule of law alongside absence of checks and balances are what fuel abuse of office by the appointees, they do as they wish because of strong and independent supervisory committees.

Some governments in Nigeria approve the provision and installment of social amenities such as roads, schools and hospitals constructions but give less priority to pay unplanned or unscheduled visit to those sites. Unfortunately, even when contractors are found obviously guilty of using substandard materials, unqualitative constructions and other faults that could lead to the cancelation of the projects, the venom of ‘Who You Know or Who Knows You’ mostly compel members of supervisory committees close the charges on the defaulters.

Nigeria as epicenter for Africa’s democracy should be a frontier in every aspects, leaders need to be wary of who they carry along as cabinet members, there are lots of animals in human skins; strict investigations is therefore necessary by Assembly members before approving personalities sent to them. There is need for electoral bodies to assent laws that would allow independent candidacy as it is done in developed countries; this would help in putting an end to the politics of God-fatherism and barricade leaders from elites’ their unjustifiable interferences after settling on mantles.

In conclusion, leaders at all levels should set some trustworthy people to be secretly checkmating how Ministers, Commissioners and local government council members run the affairs of their various public offices; doing this would assist in identifying lackadaisic officials and those neglecting responsibilities should be sacked. President, Governors and Chairmen of Local Governments should never just let go of cabinet members that are using youths as thugs, they should face wrath of the law while engaging such youths in fruitful ventures that would better their lives and members of communities.

Mukhtar Kobi writes from Bauchi and can be reached via garbakobim@gmail.com