IMO state governor, Rochas Okorocha has unceasingly
faced diverse controversies over actions or inactions vis-à-vis stewardship as
the chief executive officer of the metropolis. Hitherto were unembellished attacks
over the erection of a statue of President Jacob Zuma of South Africa in
Owerri, the state capital after market-demolition saga, and followed by hosting
Liberia’s President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in the midst of state’s financial
crisis; chiefly arrears of workers’ salaries.
Earlier, President Zuma was resplendently
hosted by the state despite ill-treatments of numerous Nigerians in South
Africa, though elites believed the governor strategically opted for such
diplomatic approaches to bridge the gap against further discriminatory
squabbles.
But on the statues, many however, contended
that beautification of the state with public funds at a time workers lament
profusely over arrears tantamount to insensitivity, unfortunately forgot that
payment of salaries is just one out of numerous administrative duties, and that
salaries in an organized sector as state government are guaranteed. Undeniably,
it is hurting if not paid as at when due. However, it is imperative to footnote
that awarding contracts; statues or others when salaries are owed may not imply
neglect as many projects are unpaid even after execution. Nonetheless, if
salaries are owed maliciously, deliberately or negligently which no
well-balanced person would believe, then a blunder.
Presently, the controversies have altered
in magnitudes. The governor appointed a total of 28 commissioners including a
new Ministry of Happiness and Purpose Fulfillment leading to a whole lot of
disparagements. To make it seemingly worse, the governor appointed his sibling as
commissioner of the new ministry. To some, a state having such number of ministries
is a gaffe. But put it in another way, all the commissioners are indigenous of
the state, and broadmindedly, additional ministries will ultimately open doors
for job creation. The critical question is who would constitute the workforce
in the new ministries; indigenous people of Imo from various families. Thus, by
the approach, government is indirectly absorbing unemployed population into its
workforce. Hence, the question should be how the governor whose state currently
owes arrears of salaries intends to cope with more employments instead of downsizing.
On the controversial ministry which
actually sounds absurd against the conservative pattern, broadmindedly, it is not
abysmal as seemed. For example, section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended provides for a fundamental human right,
precisely right to private and family life which over the years was neglected
by governments despite unvarying recitals. Therefore, if the governor brings into
line the provision, and offered to create a ministry exclusively for purpose
fulfillment, obviously, it is a desideratum. Private and family life are basically
accepted in governance, above positive laws and therefore shouldn’t be taken
for granted especially when measured with many families in abyss, heading to
court every now and then for divorce, and worst of it, ubiquitous cases of
murder amongst spouses lately. Sensibly, the idea meticulously provides a good interventionist
mechanism for improving private life and should be sustained provided there is
a realistic template and blueprint. What
should be of utmost importance are the goals rather than peripherals as many
new objects seem anomalous at first. Gone are the days when parents give mere fanciful,
reigning names with little or no meanings to their children but now emphatic
irrespective of the stretches.
Imperatively, most people are
allergic to change. Incidentally, change is constant. Any attempts to alter a long-existing
system will certainly face resistance except by bold and unflinching approaches.
Emphatically, vision, originality and avant-gardism are overriding attributes
of leadership. Arising from the above and essentially the 1999 constitution, additional
ministries shouldn’t call for hullaballoos or acrimony. For appointment, commissioners
and ministerial nominees are assigned portfolios after confirmation by the
House of Assembly and Senate respectively, and therefore if the governor thereafter
assigns offices, he shouldn’t be crucified. Democracy is a representative
government and people should rather hold their legislators who exercise their
sovereignty in trust accountable over their actions. Generally, democracy is a
tenured arrangement and if any administrator is inept, it is a matter of time.
Umegboro, a public
affairs analyst wrote from Lagos.
No comments:
Post a Comment