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Between 1990 and 1996 over N20 billion of depositors money was lost in banks that got distressed due to the dishonesty of banks and directors in the affected banks. Many customers of these Banks lost their sanity and some even their lives due to the shock. Some families were left without breadwinners, many business outfits collapsed as a result of the closure of these banks. This high rate of bank distress was caused by the mismanagement of bank deposits by the officials of the banks.
The rot in our tertiary institutions is so bad that even the blind can see it! Our university teachers today collect money from students so as to pass them. some of them compromise their positions by having illicit affairs with the female students. The menace of cultism in our higher institutions illustrates that Nigerians will rather be leaders in things that are negative than positive?
Between 1995 and 1996, over N100 million was allegedly embezzled in OMPADEC (the predecessor of NDDC). The case of the Nigerian Airways is a can of worms that has refused to be closed. That several billions of naira (cf. Newswatch Feb. 28, 2000 and April 15. 1991) has been invested by the government in this airline and that the Nigerian planes have refused to fly in a country that plays host to several other national carriers (Air France, Swiss Air, KLM British Airways etc.) and some private airlines (Sosoliso, Albarka, Kabo, Bellview etc.) is but a high – school drama.
In 1996, Nigeria budgeted a total of N340 billion, nearly ten years after, this country does not seem to me to have spent that much in its services and development programmes. Yet we have 42 other year of our federal budget still to talk about. The Leader Newspaper of February 8, 2004 reported that Abia State received N1.208 billion in December, 2003 and N1.877 billion in January 2004 from the Federal allocation after all the deductions. The question now is has the government in Abia State really spent the over N3 billion naira it received in only two months in this state? Your guess is as good as mine with retired workers gratuities and pensions as well as workers salaries still being owed in arrears.
A discourse on the Abacha and Babangida era as well as the innuendoes of the Shagari administration is a topic for another day. All in all, the conduct of our leaders in public offices leaves a lot to be desired. Top and middle rank civil servants have today turned themselves into high – class contractors who milk the Nigerian system dry with their enterprises of doom. The resultant effect is even more highlightened as the little resources left by the rulers for the running of the system is then sucked by this class of workers. Therefore, nothing is left for the provision of the needs of the common people. Taps are dry, roads are in despair, food no available, hospitals are death-beds ready made, power supply is almost non – existent, the economy is in bad shape with the wolves entering the mainstream and our public schools are ill equipped with our homes demolished.
In our families and rural communities, our leaders are also found wanting in various responsibilities. The head of the family that earns enough but fails to pay the children’s fees is but a failure. The student who concocts lies in order to extort money from the parents or guardian is not being accountable and transparent. The mother who inflates the domestic bill in order to extract money from father is but a great cheat and role model to the children!
The resultant consequences of lack of accountability on the part of our leaders in Nigeria cannot be far-fetched. They are many and varied and have contributed greatly to the backwardness of Nigeria, our vast materials and human resources notwithstanding. They range from:
1. Loss of confidence and trust in leaders of Nigeria
2. De-motivation of the generality of the people who are not in anyway encouraged to contribute meaningfully to the development of the country
3. Honest and good people are scared from leadership positions since they try to avoid being tainted by the action of others
4. Denies good governance in Nigeria that will contribute to professionals and technocrats who may not want to be part of the band-wagon of bad leaders
5. The promotion of unpatriotism on the part of the general public who do not see any convincing reason why they should be committed to the interest of the nation when our leaders are seen to be serving themselves only
6. Leads to apathy or lack of interest on the part of the populace in major national activities like elections, census, Nations celebrations etc.
7. Results in the mismanagement and misappropriation of the country’s resources and treasury
8. Promotes underdevelopment in Nigeria since that which are meant for the development of the country are either mismanaged or embezzled.
9. Reduces the in-flow of foreign investments and aid into the country since investors and donors are not sure of safety of their investments and impacts of their resources.
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Henry Ekwuruke
Henry Ekwuruke is Executive Director of the Development Generation Africa International.
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