The Socio-Economic Research and Development Centre (SERDEC) heartily felicitates with Nigeria on the occasion of this year’s democracy day celebration. It commends the citizens’ efforts in the years of uninterrupted civil rule marking 25 years of sustaining the values of democracy despite challenges and trials encountered through the journey to a sustainable democratic nationhood.
While democracy may not have delivered the expectations and desired dividends of rapid Socio-economic and political development, the fact that democracy is still in existence brings hope for a better tomorrow through a collective interest, brotherhood, and patriotic effort as we call on Nigerians to deepen our conviction, remain resolute and continue to demand good governance and accountable leadership for democratic sustainability.
Like all democracies all over the world, no democracy is immune to the challenges faced by Nigeria today, however, the resilience of the people and effective leadership go a long way in providing the right solution to governance for the nation to move forward and stand tall among the comity of nations.
Nigeria stands today as the poverty capital of the World, several global statistics have projected the country in negative lights ranging from corruption index to environment, health, insecurity, unemployment, inflation, unpopular economic policies, and ineffective social reforms.
Nigeria’s economy once Africa’s biggest has now slipped to the fourth in Africa. Despite being a leading oil-producing country in the world, the oil curse has continued to fuel corruption, deterioration of the standard of living, epileptic wages and income for workers, and inequality which continue to threaten our Socioeconomic and environmental landscape and existence.
With one year spent in office following the dramatic removal of Fuel Subsidy, floating of the Naira, and Tax system reform, the current government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policies despite pledges to turn around the economy have left a larger population of Nigerians in poverty, living below a dollar a day with no clear reform and effective strategy to address the drowning economy basked in weak monetary policies, imbalances in petrol prices, unstable prices of foodstuff, insecurity, dwindling foreign investment and aggressive inflation.
SERDEC calls on President Tinubu to expedite action in addressing the lingering issues concerning the wages of Nigerian workers.
The current Wage system for Nigerian workers violates the fundamental rights to live, a crime against humanity, and can only be referred to as an economic genocide.
No nation can be productive until it takes seriously its workforce. With rising inflation tweaking with poverty, The proposed N62,000 minimum wage is grossly insufficient to meet the basic needs for a healthy mind to be productive for the healthy economy we envisage.
The government needs to take the fight against Corruption more seriously as part of the effort to address the current economic challenges.
Corruption has adverse effects on both the revenue and expenditure sides of government budgets and has immensely contributed to the collapse of infrastructure and poor service delivery.
Corruption is deep-seated with a weak system. It is commendable that within one year in office, the government has taken proactive steps by prosecuting formal ministers and heads of government agencies involved in corrupt practices in the last government and holding its appointees to account following the suspension of the Humanitarian Minister.
More confidence-building actions and approaches are required to show commitment such as funding of anti-corruption agencies to carry out their activities independently without political interference and upholding the open government principles for inclusive governance, transparency, and accountability in tackling corruption.
On the role of the judiciary in sustaining our democracy, SERDEC agrees that the Judiciary is expected to be the voice and hope for the masses and have a fundamental role to play in sustaining democracy. An effective democratic system can only be sustainable when law and order can be guaranteed by a sound and impartial judicial system.
Regrettably, this enviable role has not been without some accusations being pointed at the hallowed temple of Justice due to the antecedence of some members of the judiciary doling out conflicting orders and decisions on political matters, this has left Nigerians confused as to the role of the judiciary as a platform to seek for justice in a democratic system or a tool in the hands of the political elites.
The judiciary needs to be more independent, unbiased, and courageous in giving proactive judgment that will thrive in democracy and build confidence in the judicial system
Democratic maxim postulates the alienable rights of equality and freedom, consolidating democracy in Nigeria must come from an in-depth patriotic commitment to accountability, transparency, inclusion, and responsiveness as this administration steps into her second year of governance.
There is a need to show bold steps toward building trust in leadership, Government can do better than mere political orchestra on matters of social protection and citizens’ welfare to quickly address the growing case of poverty and hunger.
Looking forward toward sustaining our democracy, we need to make it unattractive to political vultures who pilfer and wreak the national treasury, the government should reform the political system to make it unattractive by cutting the cost of governance.
Democracy in Nigeria is our collective business as a nation-state. In a democracy, the concept of people is very critical in the measurement of the indices of her survival, growth, and sustainability.
It is however necessary that government at all levels should demonstrate a fair share of political will to sustain our much cherished democracy. We wish Nigeria many more years of sustained democratic ideals.
Comrade Tijani Abdulkareem
Executive Director,
Socio-Economic Research and Development Centre, SERDEC
