Parliamentary system: Change mindset not form of government!

The phrase “all men are created equal” is part of the United States of America Declaration of Independence.  It was the reason why the Americans rejected the autocratic, elitist British monarchy and opted for democracy which is supposed to ensure the greatest happiness for the greatest number. Some members of the House of Representatives recently […]

The phrase “all men are created equal” is part of the United States of America Declaration of Independence.  It was the reason why the Americans rejected the autocratic, elitist British monarchy and opted for democracy which is supposed to ensure the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

Some members of the House of Representatives recently suggested that the nation revert to parliamentary government in the belief that altering the system of government in this manner will bring about greater happiness for a greater number of Nigerians.

Unacceptably, the supporters of a return to parliamentary government presented no valid argument to prove how this would solve the far more pressing problems of insecurity, inflation, suffocating debt profile, unrealistic minimum wage, dilapidated road infrastructure, and collapsed health and educational sectors which require immediate attention. It is all about power sharing!

Furthermore, the claim that reverting to parliamentary system will reduce the cost of governance is fallacious. Although ministers will be selected from members of the House of Representatives, all evidence points to the fact that they will draw a second salary, allowances and paraphernalia of office because they are still expected to represent their constituents.

Admittedly, it is paradoxical that under the presidential system politicians contest at the polls and get elected, while a different set of unelected appointees run the country as federal ministers or state commissioners! The saddest aspect of the presidential system is that it is the voices of cronies in government that seem to have the ear of those in charge, rather than vox-populi (the voice of the people). This will not change with the parliamentary government.

It is also true that the exorbitant cost of governance in Nigeria isn’t due to the system of government; it is due to the fact that Nigerian political office holders use inordinate amounts of public funds to cushion themselves from the impact of hardships and economic realities of the nation. Their selfishness and indifference towards the plight of citizens is evidenced by actions ranging from purchasing luxury Toyota SUVs for themselves, to increasing their opaque allowances, frustrating oversight functions by taking kick-backs, and totally disregarding the ethics of public office.

There can be no denying that elected political office holders have done as much, if not more, damage to the economy than political appointees.  It is abundantly clear that the welfare of Nigerians is the last thing on their minds and those urging change have failed to provide any proof that parliamentary governance will change this mindset.

Lamentably, Nigerians routinely elect people who do not adhere to any known political philosophy, and contest elections only for pecuniary gains. Instead of exuding compassion, they inadvertently reveal their scorn for the electorate with their offensive luxurious lifestyles paid for by the public purse. While they urge all Nigerians to make sacrifices for the nation, the “all Nigerians” they refer to does not include themselves who, in order to do their job, “need” luxury SUVs, escort vehicles for their personal protection and unjustifiable salaries and allowances!

The current government says that they are aware that Nigerians are hungry and angry, but that they have a plan, albeit unarticulated, which will eventually turn the nation’s fortunes around. According to them, their secret plan will not benefit the public in the short run, but is beneficial in the long-run. They fail to factor in the reality that in Nigeria life tends to be short and brutish, and the majority of Nigerian workers earn daily pay and cannot continue to suffer waiting for the “long run”!

Whether under a presidential or parliamentary system, political office holders are supposed to use their position to pursue objectives immediately beneficial to the electorate. It is disappointing to say the least that after promising to improve people’s lives, they can exhibit such ruthless disregard for the welfare of Nigerians. Nigeria’s elected officials live in pompous self-delusion pretending to pursue the best interests of the people, while not offering any meaningful roadmap out of the current debt-profile and economic mess. It is hardly surprising that the electorate resents them for using the system to further their own personal self-aggrandisement. Nigerians are justifiably frustrated that both state and federal governments continue to incur debts for future generations to repay, and then allocate the borrowed money to ill-considered non-revenue-generating purchases. The truth is that the parliamentary government will not remove the scorn with which they view the electorate.

Paradoxically, every Nigerian politician while in opposition appears to be compassionate and have solutions to the nation’s problems. Alas, once in power they prioritise their self-comfort above all else. Recently, billions have been squandered renovating the National Assembly complex, purchasing luxury vehicles, constructing presidential palaces, and unnecessarily gallivanting all over the world. The National Assembly members must recognise that the system of government is not the nation’s real problem; it is the mindset of the political class

As for altering the constitution, the question legislators fail to answer is quite simple; “in a situation in which political office holders habitually disregard the current constitution, what makes anyone believe that they will respect and obey a new one?” Until they better understand the limitations and failings of past governments, change their behaviour, be motivated by adherence to known political philosophy with genuinely democratic and compassionate thought processes, and replace their avaricious, inappropriate mindset, ordinary Nigerians are unlikely to see any positive results from returning to parliamentary governance.