ARTICLES
Letter: "Next step in realising Nigeria's immense potential"
By Thompson Ayodele
Financial Times
April 14 2003
From Mr Thompson Ayodele.
Sir, While Nigerians have looked forward to new elections with a mix of hope and fear, voting does not necessarily ensure that Nigeria's nascent democracy will survive the many threats it faces from those who wish to profit from power (Comment & Analysis, April 10).
Political violence here stems in part from the power government officials can wield. The country's resources and assets are in government control. Property rights remain arbitrary at best and the government maintains wide discretion over business licensing. Thus, many people go into public service not to help others but to cash in on the corruption culture. Candidates secure loans to pursue their political ambitions and, in return, offer their funders favours.
Several important measures could help cut corruption in Nigeria. First, the power available to public officials to grant or rescind licences should be reduced.
Second, the people themselves must be allowed to control the resources found in their areas, collect relevant taxes and remit certain percentages to the central government.
Third, sectors that the government has been monopolising for years, such as oil, should be deregulated. This should be coupled with the private provision of certain essential services currently at government's domain, ceding most public enterprises to credible individuals or private companies.
These actions would help remove resources from greedy politicians, making public services more efficient and reliable, and less subject to political whimsy and favours.
After the votes are counted and the winners announced, they must take the next steps to help Nigeria achieve its immense potential. This means reducing corruption, promoting property rights and the rule of law, and encouraging enterprise and entrepreneurship. Only this way can Nigerians lift themselves from poverty and violence.
Thompson Ayodele, Institute of Public Policy Analysis, Lagos, Nigeria