by Eromose Ileso
Nigeria is a country with a bevy of paradox. There remain
many aspects of society that are a complete opposite to what obtains practically
and what is laid out on paper.
To many, it is easy to read the rules and regulations guiding a particular subject especially when you want to engage in some form
of activities in a sector.
However, often times, one is likely to be shocked by
the polar opposite between what has been spelt out in a book that beautifully
outlines the rules and regulations regarding such a subject or sector. It could
be in the area of everyday life or just an aspect of governance.
The difference between what obtains practically and what is in
such book is self-governance which is a thriving industry in Nigeria.
The use
of self-governance to some could mean a certain set of people agitating to be
governed independently by themselves. But in this scenario, it is completely
different from what self-governance actually means.
In Nigeria, self-governance means making a way for yourself
in an area where the actual government has either failed or have neglected from fulfilling their obligations.
From every facet of the Nigerian society, you
are confronted with people that are actually government unto themselves by
setting out rules to make their lives comfortable not because they want to, but
because they have to as the government is mostly incommunicado.
No sector depicts the concept of self-governance in Nigeria
than the power sector. Despite the billions of dollars that have been pumped
into the sector, there is more darkness than light. Little wonder that, many
Nigerians no longer wait for the various distribution companies to restore
light when they deem fit, rather most now have generators to power their
businesses and to light up their homes.
When you visit most markets or business places in Nigeria cities, you are suddenly confronted by the sheer number of congregation of
generators that are slalomed together. The noise from these machines have become
a trademark signature of the unreliable power situation in Nigeria.
If you are establishing a business in Nigeria, especially one that requires constant power supply and you have not
factored in the purchase of a generator in your budget, it means you are not
ready for business as the unstable and unreliable power supply could cripple
such business before it has really started.
Another area is the issue of security. For years now, the government
has mounted a campaign for Sim Cards to be registered. They are quick to point
out that the registration of phone lines will reduce crime, and it will aid in apprehending criminals. But what obtains
practically is different as crime has not been curbed or reduced through
this avenue.
For instance, this is more evident in cases of kidnapping. Kidnappers
would comfortably make calls to the families of their victims demanding ransom
payment, and yet nothing is done to trace these calls to know under whose name
the phone line was registered as well as the location of the kidnappers. It is
a well-known fact that most cases of kidnapping in Nigeria are resolved through the
payment of ransoms than the direct involvement of security agencies.
Reporting a case of kidnapping to the police
most times reeks more of record keeping than anything else. Though, there are
some cases that are resolved by the police. But it could be put at a ratio of one in
ten.
Because of the fact that the system and institutions in Nigeria doesn’t
really work as it should, that is why most citizens have taken it upon themselves to resolve
matters the best way possible, instead of waiting for government agencies to
rescue the situation. It is this self-governance that continues to be the platform
under which most crisis situations are resolved rather than through the
concerted efforts of government.
Still on security, there are communities that have built
police stations and handed it over to the police authorities to bring their
presence to that area. It doesn’t end there; there are others that have set up
vigilante groups that serve as security guards in many places.Yet these are duties of the government.
There is also the issue of infrastructure. This is evident
in water supply and road. The provision of water by the citizens should be the
biggest institution of self-governance in Nigeria. Nobody waits for government
to provide pipe borne water these days in most Nigerian cities. The sinking of
boreholes is now a common and necessary practice if you want to enjoy regular
water supply.
Though few can readily afford it, as a result there are public boreholes set up by private citizens to sell water, but light is not always available to pump it.
Most Nigerians born in the mid, last nineties and in this millennium
have never seen pipe borne water from a government source, rather it is from a borehole
sunk by a private citizen.
On roads, most communities now contribute funds to address
the deplorable state of their road instead of waiting for government. It is
common to see communities grading their streets during the dry season, while in some
places, they usually go a step further by constructing drains and asphalting the
roads.
When you examine what government actually does for
Nigerians, you can barely find little or nothing. When it comes to water, road, energy and other infrastructure, you begin to ask yourself what does
the government really do?
Self-governance from Nigerians has become more reliable than the actual government as they have repeatedly failed to live up their responsibilities.
Despite Nigeria’s lopsided taxation structure, there are
still many people that pay taxes regularly, and it is the poor that pay most of
the taxes in Nigeria when compared to the rich. Yet, despite the payment of
tax, you seldom enjoy any benefit for such payment.
The way Nigeria has evolved over time especially as the
wheels continue to come off in certain areas, it is difficult to see beyond self-governance
from citizens as the tool to get most things done.
Nigerians will continue to buy
generators to power their businesses, boreholes will continue to be sunk and
many others if things don't improve.
