If I were a governor in Nigeria post 2015

I have followed the political development in Nigeria and wondered what sort of politics we practice. Politics should be based on policies and ideology. I am yet to find candidates campaigning based on articulated programmes and policies especially at states and local levels. Alas, the bargain is often money for votes. It should be good […]

I have followed the political development in Nigeria and wondered what sort of politics we practice. Politics should be based on policies and ideology.

I am yet to find candidates campaigning based on articulated programmes and policies especially at states and local levels. Alas, the bargain is often money for votes.

It should be good policies/programmes for votes.

It keeps me wondering what would have been the policies/programmes that these politicians should have been trading in their campaigns. What would have been their campaign promises that voters could hold them accountable?  I decided to put myself in the shoes of the politicians. In this case, What if I am one of the contestants for the seat of a governor? What would be my policies and programmes if elected? And I have chosen my home state, Katsina.

If I were the governor, I will reduce my salary and allowances to the current entitlement of a university lecturer and abolish the office of the first lady. I will reduce the number of cars in my convoy and cut down the number of political appointees. All political appointees will be paid according to their entitlements in their last jobs.

There will be a review of school curriculum by eliminating less relevant modules and introduces new ones where appropriate to address current challenges and opportunities.

Increase in the salaries of primary and secondary school teachers to the level of Polytechnic lecturers will be effected to attract the best brains at the foundation levels.

I will make provision for educational loan to students that cannot afford to pay tuition fees at all levels of education with agreement to pay 10% of their monthly salaries when they get job until they pay off the loan.

If any of such students dies, the loan will be forgiven).

There will be strict supervisions and assessments of teacher’s and qualifications including reshufflement of primary and secondary school teachers. Also, an annual mandatory training of school teachers will begin and constant power supply in educational institutions through independent power plant will be done.

I will invest more on the state university to make it a Pan African institution and all families of public servants and political appointees will compulsorily attend public schools.

The ancient and remote localities will be refurbished, roads made motorable, pipe born water made available and waste bins placed at every 250 meters apart.

Modern smart tollgates for revenue generation and security purpose will be erected.

Street naming, house numbering, and postcodes will be introduced. Town decorations,  removal of animals off streets, and total ban of child streets begging (Almajiri camp to be established, all their teachers to reside in the camp, the children will study and sleep in the camp, clothing/uniforms to be  provided, religious  and modern education also provided).

Provision of mechanised farming facilities for all with large-scale government farms where varieties of crops are produced, processed and packaged for commercial purposes.

Government will rear animals, process and package the meat for commercial purposes. Revival of the leather industry (hides and skins) for exports will be pursued. The agricultural sector shall be able to employ 60% of the unemployed youth in the state and farming will be all year round.

If I am governor, construction of wind turbines and solar panels for residential and commercial sectors will take place and there will be ban on the 100 and 60 watts electric bulbs, free distribution and installation of prepaid electric meters, provision of more transformers, development of local dams to generate electricity, electric wires in new extensions to be sealed in the ground.

Social welfare package to orphans, widows, unemployed youth and elderly people will be introduced.  Social work to be assigned to the unemployed youth whose social package will be for maximum of one year. 

I will introduction the double decker public buses (affordable), youth to be trained and employed to drive these buses on shift bases, the buses will follow different routes that cover every possible destination.

Private investors will be subsidised to provide and run these types of buses. Introduction of maximum allowable local speed limits of 60klm/hr for single carriageway and 70klm/hr on dual carriageways.

For security purposes, there will be close circuit TV cameras, special anti-bribery allowances to police, police patrols in every two hours in every locality. Provision of Police patrol vehicles and capital punishments for criminal and corrupt offences will be handled with all seriousness.

Friendly and affordable housing policy, construction of more houses annually, and subsidised for low and middle income earners. Encourage private developers to build more houses, and government will subsidise them for low and middle income earners.  

If I am governor, I will review the health insurance policy of the state to accommodate non-public workers, introduces a policy/insurance to provide health services free/affordable for all and free medical services from pregnancy to delivery.

Youth Development and Sports will take considerable state resources to develop their capacities and entrepreneurial skills. Annual sports competitions at different levels/stages (soccer, badminton, basketball, handball, tennis etc) will receive state attention.

For corporate governance and professionalism, all civil servants must be punctual, neatly dressed and efficient and to serve without fear or favour.

Online governance will be activated and interactive government website where people can visit to know about the activities of every department and ministry. People will be able to contact public authorities to share ideas, make comments and lodge complains. The website will be a data hub, where Research findings and data will be published and accessed.

This is my dream for Katsina state post 2015.

Ahmed Adamu is the Chairperson of the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC). He lives in the UK