Now that voters’ registration is over
The way too much reference was made to the NYSC, one will assume that it is statutorily saddled with the responsibility of the smooth conduct of the registration exercise as all the lapses were reported to be those of the corps members. Embarrassingly, a National Commissioner at INEC was quoted as being one of those […]
The way too much reference was made to the NYSC, one will assume that it is statutorily saddled with the responsibility of the smooth conduct of the registration exercise as all the lapses were reported to be those of the corps members. Embarrassingly, a National Commissioner at INEC was quoted as being one of those blaming the NYSC for its (INEC) failure, warts and all.
At some points, this outcry came to reaffirm the fears of some people that the present arrangement between the two organizations (INEC and NYSC) was capable of giving the NYSC a major blow as a successful government agency as Nigerians have a penchant for complaining about almost everything.
Eventually, the machines started picking, the registration started moving faster and more people becoming registered by the day. Behold, neither INEC nor NYSC was commended for at least, surmounting the earlier problems. At present, over 55 million Nigeria’s eligible voters have been registered.
Then when it appeared all could not register, attention was again moved to INEC for attempting to disenfranchise 8 million or so Nigerians. I remember telling a journalist friend that I wonder why nobody has seen it worthy to commend either the NYSC or INEC even when the registration exercise picked up smoothly but she could not come up with an explanation. Anyway, that is the wont with many of us Nigerians.
On Thursday last week, two days to the end of the registration exercise, I saw on my facebook wall, the NYSC DG, Gen. M I Tsiga, posting on his own facebook page, a congratulatory message to all his staff and corps members. It was the heading that caught my attention. It reads “NYSC congratulates self on voters’ registration”.
The Director-General was commending the performance of his staff and corps members for the success of the exercise despite what he described as “harsh conditions” and this is the kernel of this write-up – talking about everybody blowing his own trumpet.
A colleague once told me why the lizard, after jumping from the fence, will continue to nod its head. He said it is in appreciation of the great work it has done by jumping from the fence telling other animals, “Una no see wetin i do”? in other words, what the wise colleague was getting across to me was that the world is so wicked today that nobody sees a good work done by another fellow until the fellow acknowledges it himself. That one will have to start singing his praises before others will join him. No wonder, the NYSC DG was, like the proverbial lizard, commending the dedication of his staff and corps members in the voters registration exercise. Perhaps, he is aware that no Nigerian will commend them – hence the need for him to do it.
Shehu Bello Harris wrote in from EFAB Estate, Apo, Abuja. [email protected]