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Ebi Nurseman Isaac, acia
‘N 41,500.00 MONTHLY CITIZENSHIP WELFARE ALLOWANCE AND N 150,000.00 MONTHLY BASIC SALARY FOR THE EMPLOYED IS POSSIBLE IN NIGERIA’ - EBI NURSEMAN ISAAC
Christmas/New
Year Open Message to:
1.
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
2.
Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
3.
Senate President and his Distinguished Colleagues
4.
Speaker of the House of Representatives and his Honourable Colleagues
5.
Chief Justice of the Federation
6.
All the 36 State Governors and Minister, FCT, Abuja
7.
Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
8.
Speakers and Members of State Houses of Assembly
9.
All the 774 Local Government Council Chairmen in Nigeria
10. All that are
in Positions of Authority and Decision Making Levels
“IDENTIFIED SOCIO-ECONOMICAL/POLITICAL PROBLEMS
& CONSEQUENCES OF VISIONARY LEADERSHIP IN A COUNTRY”
By:
Ebi Nurseman Isaac, acia
In
my book titled “Principles and Techniques of Electing Visionary Leaders for Nation
Building” published in March 2007, I outlined about 24 identified
Socio-economic Problems in Nigeria and also mentioned the Consequences of Visionary
Leadership in a Country which has been published in a number of times in local
and National Newspapers.
THE
IDENTIFIED SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROBLEMS REFERRED TO ARE: (1)
Problem of lack of qualitative education for all (2) Problem of unstable or epileptic power supply in all parts of
the country (3) The aged long under development
problem of the oil/gas rich Niger Delta Region (4) The problem of not having good transportation system -air, land
and sea (5) Problem of unemployment
and affordable shelter for all (6) Problem
of not choosing, appointing or electing the right person to do the right job (7) Problem of not giving "Real Situation
Report" (RSR) on issues at the local, state and national levels
respectively (8) Problem of lack of
good medical facilities/services (9)
Problem of lack of security of lives, property and the environment (10) Problem of lack of maintenance
culture (11) Problem of not recognizing,
empowering and utilizing talented and resourceful persons (12) Problem of placing money above integrity and service to
humanity (13) Problem of deliberate
creation of crises situation to benefit a few to the detriment of the common
man (14) Problem of ineffective supervision
of workers and projects with the aim of ensuring compliance, rewarding of
faithful workers and punishment of defaulters and indolent ones (15) Problem of lack of portable water
for all citizens (16) Problem of
display of injustice by a so-called leader that breads crises situation and
consequently leads to an ungovernable society (17) Problem of exchanging good ideas by experts to solve identified
national problem with pre- determined ideas of selfish leaders that may not
solve the problem (18) Problem of
lack of effective and continuous formulation and implementation of problem
solving policies, regulations and laws aimed at promoting the dignity of the
citizenry and peaceful co-existence (19)
Problem of bribery, corruption and indiscipline (20) Problem of re-orientating the mind-set of the citizenry to possess
the right perspective on people and wealth acquired through dubious ways (21) Problem of requiring
effectiveness, performance and productivity from workers without providing the
necessary working tools and enabling environment which I called ‘Pharaohic Leadership
and Management Principle’ (22) Problem
of talented and resourceful persons leaving the country to foreign lands and
being used by foreign nationals to develop their countries while economic and
political problems remain unsolved in the country (23) The problem of various Ministries, Parastatals, professions,
agencies, commissions, etc not being able to sincerely and faithfully carry out
their legal/ statutory and civic duties/responsibilities (24) Problem of tribalism, ethnicity, nepotism, sectionalism which
is resulting to our warring against one another instead of waging a tireless war
against Indiscipline and Corruption, Impoliteness, Insubordination,
Incorrigibility, Insincerity, Individualism, Inhospitality, Inhumanity,
Injustice, Inferiority complex and Insensitivity to matters that promote
peaceful co-existence and purposeful nation building activities.
CONSEQUENCES
OF VISIONARY LEADERSHIP IN A COUNTRY AS STATED IN THE BOOK
Nigeria
is believed to have been blessed by God graciously with abundant human, mineral
and natural resources in all the 36 states of the federation including the
federal capital territory (FCT), Abuja, that if prudently managed with result
oriented war against corruption and indiscipline can place the country among
the top five richest nations of the world. Research on mineral resources
deposits in Nigeria reveal that as far as mineral deposits are concern, Kogi
state and next-door Nasarawa state are the most well-endowed across the entire
country. Kogi state alone has enough deposits of coal to supply all of Nigeria
with electricity for 400 years and limestone to keep 3 giants sized cement
factories (with over 15million tons annual capacity) operational for an
unbroken stretch of 99 years. Next door in Nasarawa state, there are commercial
deposits of 25 MINERAL RESOURCES including tantalite, barite, copper, iron ore,
tin, coal, columbite, aquamarine etc.
The
2006 census conducted by the National Population Commission (NPC), places Nigeria
population at One Hundred and Forty Million. Let us even assume there are Two
Hundred Million people in Nigeria, the federal, state, and local government
respectively can, without any stress, budget at least N500, 000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira Only) for each citizen
annually. This means N41, 500 (Forty
One Thousand Five Hundred Naira Only) or $273 (Two Hundred and Seventy Three
USD) monthly allowance, (N152 to a
Dollar) being 50% for federal, 30% for states and 20% for local government
councils contributions to what I call ‘Nigeria
Citizenship Monthly Welfare Allowance Fund’ –NCMWAF. The implication is
that the Minimum Salary or Wages for those employed either in the Public or
Private sector should be between N150,000
and N200,000 per month. This has nothing
to do with appropriate salary and wages for those employed in the private or
public sector. Neither does this affect any capital project to be carried out
in the country in a given year. It should be just one of the benefits as a bonafide
citizen of this great country.
WHO IS A VISIONARY LEADER? A
visionary leader in my own definition is someone who identifies the socio-economic
problems in a given society and proffers strategic solutions to them within a reasonable
time for present and future generations. This means he or she does not explain
or describe problems nor rub the identified problems with vaseline or paint
them with different primary or secondary colours for the citizens to see them
clearly (feel the pain more) rather, he uses his resourcefulness, creativity,
hard work, diligence and all available resources which are Men, Materials and Money (3Ms) to solve identified problems. In
other words, a visionary leader uses what I call ‘Root-tology Approach and
not Branch-tology
or Stem-tology
or Fruit-tology Approach’
in solving identified problems.
Many
people all over the world especially in Africa are in dare need of a visionary President
or Head of government to lead them to the promise land of solving identified
socio-economic problems confronting them in their nations of which Nigeria
claiming to be the giant of Africa is not an exception. However, instead of
being confused with so many people claiming to have possessed with visionary
leadership qualities, it is imperative to look at the consequences or the
resultant effects of having a visionary leadership in any given country. Historical
records reveal that some countries of the world had at one time or the other experienced
socio-economic problems that resulted to serious famine, depression and deaths.
Some people during those periods committed suicide.
The
United States of America (USA), Japan, China, Malaysia and even Ghana are
living examples. In fact, many Ghanians in the 80’s left their country to
neighbouring countries especially Nigeria for safety, while others died in the
process. What shall we say about the sad experiences of the Japanese, Malaysians
and Chinese? But when visionary leadership emerged in those countries and took strategic
decisions, things turned around for good and the evidences are clearly seen.
WHAT
ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF VISIONARY LEADERSHIP IN A COUNTRY?
In
other words, what will be resultant effects of having a visionary leader in a
given country? They are many but let me mention a few of them. First, there will be uninterrupted
power supply throughout the country which is the key to solving other
Socio-economic problems. Even in the Bible, the first thing God created was
light Second, the citizens of the
country who might have left for other countries for safety or any other
economic reasons might return home. If the citizens of the country in the
Diaspora are not returning home, instead, the remaining ones are still
constantly visiting embassies to obtain visa to travel out, it means visionary
leadership has not emerged over the years. Third,
talented and resourceful persons in the country will be recognized, empowered
and utilized for profitable nation building activities. Fourth, talented and resourceful citizens of the country who are
being used by foreigners in developing their countries will return home to assist
in nation building and development activities. Fifth, lip services to the nation’s educational sector which is
another vital key to sustainable and improved development of a country will be replaced
with sincere and goal oriented investment. Sixth,
there will be high level of technological growth that will lead to decrease in
import and increase exports, manufacturing of goods and services for local and
international use. Seventh, there
will be strict or uncompromising enforcement of laws and policies on all
citizens (complete practice of rule of law) and compliance to set down rules
and procedures at all levels of governance. Eight, there will be practice of ‘True or Fiscal Federalism’ where the federating units (states) are
statutorily empowered to control their resources (all type of resources) for
competitive development and payment of tax where applicable to the federal
government. Last but not the least,
indiscipline and corruption in practice and principle will be wiped out in the
country while the poverty level of the citizens will be reduced to zero
percent.
In
the introductory part of this write-up, I said, critical analysis of the
nation's wealth reveal that an average Nigeria can receive a monthly allowance
of N41,500 ($273) as one of the benefits
as a bonafide citizen of this great country. The implication as earlier stated
above is that the Minimum Salary or Wages for those employed either in the Public
or Private sector should be between N150,000
and N200,000 per month. Many may have
this wrong notion or entertain fear that the N41,500
or ($273) Monthly Allowance might encourage laziness in the society. In my
opinion, it can only lead to high level of production as people especially talented
ones are empowered financially from primary school days in embarking on
research activities to manufacture or event machines and equipment that the
nation is importing for production activities. What is the sense of budgeting
over N4 Trillion in a year when between
70 and 80 percent of the amount is going to developed nations through the use
and acquisition of technological equipment and services.
The
question is, when will Nigerians manufacture cars of different type, Air-craft,
Crude Oil Drilling Equipment, Ships, Computer, Television, GSM handsets etc in
this country? The people who are manufacturing them do not have two heads. In
fact the personal being used in manufacturing some of these equipment/machines
as well as rendering technological services are Nigerians in developed
countries. I am sure we have such people right in our Country that are endowed
with uncommon gifts and talents to move the nation forward but the absence of
empowerment to utilize their talent in the society is negatively affecting
their usefulness in the society. It is close to 12 years I published these in
my book yet I have not seen any significant effort by the government to correct
the problems. The question is: How can we come out of these identified
socio-economic problems? I think solving them is the only way to not just
coming out of this present predicament but an answer to building a strong and
prosperous nation. If we continue to avoid talented and resourceful persons in
the country because they are not party loyalists and be talking about this one
is a member or not member of PDP or APC etc, we may not come out of this man made
economic and political crises and under- development in the Local Governments, states
and the nation in general. After all the biblical Joseph wasn’t even an
Egyptian, neither was he a party loyalist but his talent and gifts were
recognized, released from prison of limitation and was appointed the Prime Minister
to solve the on-coming famine in the land of Egypt at that time. When Visionary
Leadership emerges, Socio-economic Problems will naturally fade away to the
thin air. We need visionary leaders and the time is now!
Ebi Nurseman Isaac is an Astute
Chartered Administrator, Pastor, Strategic Planner, Organizational Development
Expert, School Proprietor, Award Winning Inspirational, Analytical,
Motivational and Prolific Writer/Author and one time Chief Press Secretary,
Ekeremor Local Government Council, Bayelsa State and
can be reached on: derepamo@gmail.com
or 0703-750-7733
Ebi Nurseman Isaac, acia
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