Posts
CONTRACT
WITH NIGERIANS:
Agenda
for the Development of Nigeria
By
Uzoma Onyemaechi, uncue@yahoo.com
"...This Generation of Nigerians and indeed the
Future Generation of Nigerians have No Other Country but Nigeria. We must stay
and salvage it together..."
---A Line from a speech by Maj. Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, 1984
Re-organize the Banking System:
1. Cut
down Savings interest rates
2. Increase
in rural banking
3. Encourage
Traders to utilize the banks
4. Monitor
Savings and Loans transactions for fraud
5. Encourage
Small-scale Industries Investment
6. Computerize
all banking transactions
7. Make
foreign exchange more accessible
8. Insurance
of banks in case of solvency
Re-organize Schools:
1. Review
(and if possible increase) boarding school systems
2. Introduce
computers and new courses
3. Evaluate
Schools and their curricular every 3-5 years
4. Increase
teaching staff
5. Increase
staff benefits
6. Set
Guidelines for the EVALUATION of teachers
7. Build
more schools and renovate the older ones
8. Education
of all the citizens especially the Nomads & the Niger Delta
9. Encourage
Private Sector to invest in the educational system with research grants and
community service [teaching primary & secondary schools]
10. Increase in
Adult Education and Vocational Training
11. Local
Control of Schools --- Parent/Teacher Associations
12. Certification
of Teachers in their various subjects
Improve the Health Service at all levels:
1. Increase
the doctor: patient ratio
2. Increase
the patient: bed ratio
3. More
emphasis on Community Health Service
4. More
emphasis on Preventive Medicine Policy
5. More
emphasis on Medical Research and Development
6. Encourage
practice of ABC [Abstinence, Birth Control, and Condom]
7. HIV/AIDS
education and treatment
8. Curb
infant mortality rate and maternal mortality
9. Pre-natal
and Post-natal treatment
10. Drug abuse
and fake drugs production should be stopped
11. Availability
of drugs at reasonable and affordable costs
Buy a satellite for the increase in Telecommunication
Efficiency and security of the nation
Increase Electric Power
Efficiency:
1. More
dams
2. Thermal
power
3. Nuclear
power
4. Deregulate
power supply
Massive Rural Development:
1. Water
2. Tarred
roads
3. Electric
power
4. Hospitals
5. Food
6. Cooperative
banking
7. Women
empowerment [Small Business]
Increase the efficiency of the
Police force and its infrastructures:
1. Computerize
(maps, routes, criminal database, laboratory].
2. Modernize
the Police Force [weapons, transportation, salary, healthcare, vacations,
insurance in case of indemnity]
3. Promotion
by merit and qualification
4. Decentralize
the authority of the Police Force
5. Introduce
Community Policing [interaction of the Police and the Society as partners] to
curb crime.
6. Let
Police Officers live within the community instead of the Police Barracks,
thereby getting to know the community and the community will know them.
Withdraw from the Commonwealth
of Nations == do away with Neo-colonialism
Withdraw from the Nonaligned
Movement == waste of money and out of date
Withdraw from OPEC:
1. Waste
of resources and time
2. There's
no point having to match quota with nations that have lesser population than
us.
3. We
should be able to sell our oil to whomever we choose to
Get a permanent Seat at the
United Nations:
1. As
a Representative of the Black World Population
2. Power
broker [Africa and Sub-region]
3. Peacekeeping
efforts [West Africa, African & Worldwide]
4. Natural
Resources [minerals and manpower]
5. Population
size
Strengthen the African Union:
1. Take
charge and get Africans to become united (may be become ONE NATION!)
2. Set
up African Force [like NATO] to intervene in case of abuse of power or war
between nations
3. Regional
Forces [like ECOMOG] to maintain peace
4. Free
Trade Zones to help with economic development
5. African
Development Bank made more viable and resourceful
Privatize most of the government
parastatals:
1. Telecommunications,
2. Transportation,
3. Power,
4. Mailing
system (part of it)
5. Oil
(exploration and marketing)
Encourage Foreign Investment:
1. Reduce
taxation
2. Increase
remittances and monitor it for fraud
3. Provide
security
4. Monitor
operations
5. Use
local raw materials
6. Train
local labourforce
Develop the Steel and
Petrochemical Industries == the bedrocks
of industrialization!
Encourage more Research into
African Traditional Medicine == HERBS!
Encourage private funding of
Universities:
1. Endowment
funds and chairs
2. Research
grants
3. Patent
of inventions
4. Private
sector, especially multinational corporations, support
Keep track of Oil Exploration
and Marketing (sales == at the pump)
Expand and maintain the
Transportation system:
1. Highways
2. Railroads
3. Airports
4. Seaports
Encourage Female Participation
in the running of the Government
1. Appointment
of women into positions of power
2. Education
of women
3. Mentoring
of women
Dignity of Labor:
1. Incentives
for outstanding employees
2. Enforcement
of discipline
3. Introduction
of Social Security
4. Introduction
of retirement funds/accounts
5. Health
Insurance
Accountability:
1. Discipline
and dedication on the part of government officials and employees
2. Declaration
of assets
3. Freedom
of Information Act [FOIA]
4. Whistleblower
Protection to check fraud, embezzlement, discrimination and so on.
Set Population Policy and stick to it:
1. Encourage
birth control especially abstinence amongst the youths
2. Conduct
a viable and accurate census
In Demography every information is very important. The fact
that the government will NOT be collecting such data is bad, how
can we plan adequately for all the people? We need these data for schools,
hospitals, roads, housing, economic development [location of industry and so
on], environmental conservation, and the like. As of now, the government is
using the 1963 census by extrapolation, which makes all their plans flawed.
Nigerians have grown exponentially since 1963.
These figures will help us in learning about fertility,
mortality, migration, and labour rates. Also, information about the
rate and level of urbanization of the country will help in adequately
planning for urban renewal due to decay. The Federal Office of Statistics,
Census Bureau, Universities, Research Centers [e.g. NISER] need such to maintain
some data on the country and the census is a good way of acquiring the
necessary data to start.
Having data on ethnicity will allow us to know how
many Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, Ijaw, Urhobo, Bini, Kanuri, Nupe, Igede,
Idoma, Ibibio, Efik, etc. Knowing how many of each of these groups will help in
planning for the number of schools we need and the schools’ curriculum, and
resources. For example, the Ijaw People are scattered in the Niger Delta area
with no adequate plans for both their education and development.
Conducting a good census in Nigeria is a tall task considering all the political and ethnic problems that goes with it. Any census that does not give the North the majority will be considered flawed since the British drummed it into their heads back in the ’50s that they’re supposed to be more than the South by virtue of their landmass. Everyone knows that Canada is the second largest country in the world by landmass but one of the smallest in population.
Set a Minimum wage:
1. Commensurate
to the rate of inflation and
2. Commensurate
with the state of economy
Increase PATRIOTISM and UNITY
and TRUST:
1. Accountability
of public officials
2. Responsibility
of public officials to the people
3. Teaching
of Core Democratic Values, which
includes but not limited to:
Fundamental Beliefs
(a) Life: A person's right
to life can't be violated except if your life or the lives of others is
threatened.
(b) Liberty: This includes personal freedom, political freedom, and
economic freedom. This is the freedom for people to gather in groups. They have
their own beliefs, ideas and opinions. People also have the right to express
their opinions in public.
- Personal Freedom - the right
to think and act without government control.
- Political Freedom - the
right to participate in political process.
- Economic Freedom - the right
to buy sell and trade private property and the right to employment without
the government interfering.
(c) The Pursuit of Happiness: As long as you don't interfere with
others you have the right to seek happiness in your own way.
(d) Common Good: Working together for the welfare of the community or
the benefit of all.
(e) Justice: All people should be treated fairly in both the benefits
and the obligations of society. No individual or group should be favored over
another person or group.
(f) Equality: Everyone has the right to Political, Legal, Social and
Economic Equality. Everyone has the right to the same treatment regardless of
race, sex, religion, heritage, or economic status.
(g) Diversity: The differences in culture, dress, language, heritage
and religion are not just tolerated, but celebrated as strength.
(h) Truth: They should expect and demand that the government not lie
to them and the government should disclose information to the people. The
government and its people should not lie.
(i) Popular Sovereignty: The power of the government comes from the
people. The people are the ultimate authority over the government.
(j) Patriotism: The people or citizens show a love and devotion for
their country and the values. They can show this by words or by actions.
Constitutional Principles
(k) Rule of Law: Both the people and the government must obey all
laws.
(l) Separation of Powers: The executive, legislative and judicial
branches of the government should be separate institutions, so no one branch
has all of the power.
(m) Representative Government: People have the right to elect others
to represent them in the government.
(n) Checks and Balances: The powers of the three branches of
government, executive, legislative and judicial, should be balanced. No one
branch should be dominate. Each branch should have powers to check the actions
of the other branches.
(o) Individual Rights: Each individual has the fundamental right to
life, liberty, economic freedom and the pursuit of happiness. These rights are
outlined in the Bill of Rights and the government should protect these rights
and not place undo restrictions upon them.
(p) Freedom of Religion: The right to practice any or no religion
without persecution by the government.
(q) Federalism: The states and the federal government share power as
outlined by the Constitution.
(r) Civilian Control of the Military: The people control the military
to preserve democracy via the presidency and the national assembly.
Have and Enforce a good Energy
Policy == may be an alternative to oil [Nuclear, Solar, Wind, Ethanol, Hydroelectric
power]
Enact and Enforce STRONG laws
against illegal "businesses":
1. Drugs
2. Firearms
3. Life
Imprisonment as penalty against breaking the law
Prohibition
of Coup D'etats and Military governments:
1. Treasonable
felony
2. Life
imprisonment
3. Care
of soldiers and their families [education, health, patriotism]
4. Build
barracks outside cities
5. Decentralize
the military
6. Modernize
the military [hardware, weapons, computers, planes, ships, tanks, satellites]
Institute a RESIDENCY PROGRAM thereby eliminating
"State of Origin" syndrome:
1. Will
reduce and/or eradicate tribalism
2. Promote
UNITY!!!
3. People
should be allowed to claim residency of a place that they abode and pay taxes.
Increase and place more emphasis
on RESEARCH and DEVELOPMENT for those are the "engines" of
industrialization:
Multinational corporations and
indigenous businesses should be made to be a big part of this by investing in
the harnessing of our natural resources working in conjunction with our
institutions of higher learning and research institutes e.g. NIFOR, NISER,
PRODA, etc.
Environmental Policy that goes
with Industrial development:
1. Curb
pollution, deforestation, and erosion.
2. Tree
planting to reforest the deforest areas.
3. Irrigation
of some lands.
4. Curb
use of bad insecticides
5. Shifting
cultivation of land for it to re-grow
6. Harnessing
of the natural gas to curb the burning off of it, which leads to pollution.
ABOLISH any form of TAXATION of
the People:
Since the Federal Government owns
and controls all the Resources in the country [NNPC, NNSL, Nigerian Airways,
Cocoa, Steel Co., etc.] Until these government-owned businesses are PRIVATIZED,
then the government can tax the people in order to raise revenues.
If at all there will be taxation,
let it be 10% across the board and collected by the States. The division will
be 5% for the States, 3% for the Federal Government, and 2% for the Local
Governments. The Federal allocation is for defense, foreign relations, etc.
Economics:
I believe that the Backbone
And/Or Shock Absorber for the Nigerian economy will be found with
the establishment of a SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION [SBA].
The establishment of Small Business Administration can help with the creation of more jobs at the grass-root level, middle manpower and upper levels too. The government will be able to create a playing field, set the rules of the game, and provide finances when necessary. Some of these finances are in form of government subsidized loans, enforcement of Civil rights laws in terms of job discrimination, and so on. Some of the finances have even been extended to housing for the people so that they can afford a home. Nigerian government could take advantage of the small business e.g. the Igbo Spare-parts seller/manufacturer, the Jankara/Oyingbo Market women, Aba/Onitsha marketers, the quarry owners, etc.
Democracy:
For democracy to survive in Nigeria, there has to be the RULE OF LAW!!! The INDEPENDENCE of the Judiciary in Nigeria, despite
its’ shortcomings, is the ENGINE OIL of Nigeria’s democracy. Without it,
the democratic principles of Nigeria will collapse. The citizenry has to be
assured that they are protected under the law. This will help in the
maintenance of law and order and the conformity of the citizenry. This may result
in a litigious society; however, it will help with the provision of good
consumer protection services. You don’t put out any shabby product out there
for fear of being sued.
Yes, there are cases of police brutality, circumvention of
the law by the rich in collusion with the law enforcement officers, the fact
still remain that the majority has to be made to believe in their protection
under the law and the independence of the judiciary.
·
2 Senators from Each State with 5-year
term and maximum of 2-terms
·
5 Members of the House of Representatives
from Each State [changed after census to reflect size of state] with 3-year
term and maximum of 2-terms.
·
1 Member from each local government area
at the State Assembly with a 3-year term and maximum of 2-terms.
·
Local Government Chairperson with a
3-year term and maximum of 2-terms
·
President and Governor are 4-year terms
and maximum of 2-terms
·
13 Supreme Court Justices with Lifetime
terms --- selected by the President and vetted by the National Assembly
Society Issues:
1. Police
Brutality – make Police accountable for their actions
2. Police
Public Relations Commission/Board to oversee the Police
3. Domestic
Violence – outlaw
4. Child
Abuse – Child Protective Services to monitor this
5. Sex
Abuse
6. Ethnic
Intimidation – no one should be discriminated against or attacked based on
their ethnicity
7. Child
Labour – enforcement of the laws against it
8. National
Identification Card or Social Security Card
9. National
Health Insurance Scheme
10. Human Trafficking
– complete outlaw and death as the penalty for perpetrators.
*** First published in 1995 and
revised in 2005 for the National Conference.
