What is Democracy Without Social Welfare? -By Ikechukwu Odigbo

Ikechukwu Odigbo

Democracy is not reducible to the two principles of the separation of powers and that of routine egalitarian elections. But as we continue to make progress in building a sustainable culture of democracy, it is important as well that we must continue to deepen our collective understanding of this system of popular rule.

There is a very close relationship between political power and economic welfare. If it were not so there would be no reason for Nigerians, or indeed any people, to blame their governments for their economic conditions. On their part, political parties rise to power almost always by making economic promises such as the creation of jobs and general economic improvements.

One of the campaign promises of the APC-led government was that unemployed youths will receive a monthly stipend of N5000, which many Nigerian youths are already calculating in arrears. It is a highly commendable agenda. It is not immediately clear to what extent that particular promise helped them rise to power, even though regrettably the president has said no such money will be given out.

Many public commentators have called on the APC to live up to its promises, a call that is indeed in order. But for me the question of welfare arises from its fundamental nature in democracy rather than from a merely contingent benefit to the people, hence I raise the question of whether indeed any sense can be made of democracy at all without social welfare in general?

The best way to make sense of this point is to ask the question: why do governments exist in the first place. Answers might be of different persuasions, but the commonalities would be that governments exist for the common good. But in the case of democracy this common-good is not a bye-product, as it might be in the case of tyranny, but rather constitutes the core of its essence.

Democracy is basically defined as the government of the people, for the people, by the people. What sense do we make of the phrase: for the people? It shows clearly that governments must be for the people, as the basis of its legitimacy. Legitimacy is moral validity of its authority, that is, the basis of the acceptance it has from the people.

Democracy as a system of government rests, like no other, on popular sovereignty. It is the collective will of the people in action, defined as the most beneficial common interests. During elections people vote for the protection of their interests, which put together amount to common interests. The legitimacy of a government subsists in the people’s unabated support for it, which also depends on the government’s ability to redeem its promises.

But if democracy is touted as the most popular and morally legitimate system of government, it is precisely because of this connection: it sustains itself by continuous legitimation through the people’s support. But the only way to truly gain the people’s support is to work for their benefits.

Indeed, one of the remarkable things about democracy is that it manages to fulfil the expectation of the people by securing their welfare. Across the world, the best democracies are those sustained by massive welfare programmes, ranging from subsidised health services, a free or affordable housing programme, welfare packages for the unemployed, and reliable old-age and pension remunerations.

Governments raise money to carry out these tasks mainly through taxation and sometimes through investment partnerships and other means. In the case of Nigeria, it raises its money largely through oil sales. But the merit of democracy is that those in power always have the people’s mandate to regulate the entire society and its economic activities for the common good.

So rather than think that the true check to the abuse of political power lie in the principle of separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judiciary, its true core is with political autonomy and popular sovereignty. This is why governments can be changed by elections and by massive protests, both of which signal the withdrawal of legitimacy.

Clearly no serious democratic government can take the people seriously without working assiduously for their welfare. Here the people are not the politicians themselves or their families and friends. It is the entire population. To implement social welfare for people demands that there is the provision of free and basic education, sustainable and accessible healthcare, reliable pensions and old-age scheme, as well as support for the vulnerable and worst off.

Basic education is in the overall interest of society and therefore government because education makes it easier for people to adjust self-interest and blend to the gospel of the common good. The health sector is critical because of its relationship with saving lives. Pension or old-age care is sensitive and deeply emotional as well and can generate a high sense of patriotism. There is no way you can get the younger generation to support the government if they see clearly that their parents who supported the government got nothing out of it.

Every society must support its most vulnerable people in the same way that a good mother loves even her disabled child; otherwise how can it defend its true nature as promoting the welfare of all its people? Without social support for unemployed people, how can we keep crimes low? Some of the unemployed people have satisfied all the conditions for a better life, like going to school or learning a trade to no avail. So they cannot be blamed for their conditions. Therefore they must be supported.

Whether or not oil revenue is dwindling, the Nigerian government must place the people first. Business organisations could be taxed for the good of all the members of the society and the public trust. Democracy would not be able to live up to its name if it does not have a sustainable and expanded social welfare programme. The APC-led government ought to be attentive to this, especially as it came to power on the goodwill of the people boosted by its social welfare agenda. It’s time to redeem its pledges.

Ikechukwu Odigbo is a doctoral researcher in Political Philosophy at University of Essex, UK.