Agege LGA: Must merriment be licensed?
The social, print and broadcast media have been trending with a report that residents of Agege Local Government Area (LGA) in Lagos State require an “entertainment and merriment” permit each time they want to hold a social gathering such as a birthday party, burial ceremony or wedding even if it’s within the confines of their […]
The social, print and broadcast media have been trending with a report that residents of Agege Local Government Area (LGA) in Lagos State require an “entertainment and merriment” permit each time they want to hold a social gathering such as a birthday party, burial ceremony or wedding even if it’s within the confines of their own homes!
The Council reportedly sent a demand notice for the sum of N10,500 to a resident. This being the cost of a local government permit to host a party held inside his compound. Even though LGA officials describe the cost of the permit as “ingenious and innovative” approach towards increasingly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), the whole matter needs to be put proper social context before all other LGA’s nationwide jump on the bandwagon.
Its pertinent to recall that long before Nigerians earned a worldwide reputation for financial and political fraud, they were renowned for their “joie de vivre” (exuberant enjoyment of life). Back in the “good old days” when Palm Wine and other local brews were the elixir of life, Nigerians were admired for their joyful greetings, smiling faces, communal living, highlife and cultural dancing.
This “chop life” mentality went hand in hand with a disregard for punctuality which our colonial masters mockingly called “African Time”. In virtually all aspects of life Nigerians placed a far higher premium on enjoyment than on hard work or seriousness of approach. Post-independence economic prosperity facilitated the habit of lavishly celebrating even the most minor of achievements.
As the oil economy boomed in the 1970’s this lavishness developed into obscene ostentation. Modesty was cast aside and extravagant “Owambe” Parties became the order of the day. It became routine for all the streets in a community to be blocked off for individuals to celebrate personal milestones. Surprisingly even those not financially well off were drawn into the Owambe syndrome.
These days while the Nigerian elite have mostly transferred their weddings and birthday celebrations to European destinations, the “home-based” population (including those who can ill afford it) indulge in lavish street parties during which brand-new Naira notes are sprayed and trampled upon with abandon. A small-scale industry has developed around such events. Chairs and canopies are rented out, caterers awarded contracts, musicians employed, food and drinks hawked, old currency notes changed to mint for a fee, and area boys paid to park and guard vehicles. Owambe parties used to be all night affairs until armed robbers, kidnappers and petty thieves made night-life too risky.
Holding such large-scale events within small communities is both a public nuisance, and a socially unacceptable form of behaviour. It definitely needs to be discouraged, but that is a totally different matter from requiring permission to celebrate quietly in one’s home. That smacks of an infringement to personal liberty. Many legal luminaries believe the requirement for a “merriment permit” to be contrary to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which guarantees freedom of association. It’s also been pointed out that there is no logical basis for requiring a permit to make merry when no permit is required for other social gatherings such as religious or political meetings. It would appear as if the LGA is discouraging social behaviour by preferring that citizens sit at home quietly alone rather than inviting a few friends round and socialising! Even more ridiculous is the observation that if a family calls a meeting in order to argue and disrupt the peace, then no permit is required. But if the purpose of the meeting is to show love to one another, agree to live in harmony, and enjoy some good music and dancing, then a permit is required! Several political commentators and social analysts have opined that Nigeria is fast turning into a Police State. Previously they had only the excesses of the security services and the attempts to control political hate speech to point to. Now they have been given additional ammunition by the Agege LGA’s ill-considered declaration that all merriment, even the most personal and private, must be officially approved. In every society the masses need an opium to take their minds away (even if only briefly) from their dire predicament. In Europe and America its football, in the Indian sub-continent its cricket, while in Nigeria its Partying! This is why despite the economic downturn, breweries in Nigeria continue to declare record profits.
There is no need for a merriment permit for an individual’s house because there are existing Public Health and Noise Abatement laws meant to control public nuisance. In many nations street parties have become tourist attractions. This aspect of our culture should not be cast aside on the altar of financial expediency. Government should be very wary of the social fall-out of licensing merriment.