Uphold National Anthem’s promise of equity, brotherhood

The ideals enshrined in Nigeria’s national anthem — particularly “Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand” and “Build a nation where no man is oppressed” — resonate profoundly with the realities facing many public servants today, especially regarding the unfair and subjective treatment in the civil service. When certain individuals — Heads […]

The ideals enshrined in Nigeria’s national anthem — particularly “Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand” and “Build a nation where no man is oppressed” — resonate profoundly with the realities facing many public servants today, especially regarding the unfair and subjective treatment in the civil service.

When certain individuals — Heads of service, directors, or others — are given undue tenure extensions outside the rules, often based on personal connections or political calculations, it violates both the spirit of equity and the institutional standards upon which a merit-based public service should rest.

Such actions undermine brotherhood in service, i.e., just as the anthem calls us to unite beyond tribal or linguistic lines, so must the public service be a place where every officer, regardless of origin or status, is treated fairly. Extensions granted without merit or in contravention of civil service rules breed division, resentment, and a sense of alienation among peers.

It also it perpetuates oppression through injustice. The line “Build a nation where no man is oppressed” is a direct rebuke to any practice that imposes injustice on others. Career civil servants who have served with diligence are demoralised when their professional growth is stunted by the unfair retention of others. This is a form of institutional oppression — subtle but deeply damaging.

It also erodes the banner of integrity. The anthem’s call to “Hand on to our children a banner without stain” speaks to the legacy we leave. A public service tainted by favouritism, subjective extensions, and disregard for due process is a stained banner — and contradicts the ethical foundations of public administration.

In essence, subjective appointments and unfair tenure extensions are modern forms of oppression, quiet but corrosive. Upholding the values of the anthem requires us not just to sing its words, but to reflect them in action: by ensuring that civil service rules are respected, that merit and equity guide decisions, and that no one is held back because others are being held up unfairly.

The anthem reminds us that patriotism is not just emotion — it is principle, and justice is at its core.

Therefore, Mr. President, let justice reign in Nigeria’s Civil Service, and remember unfair tenure extensions undermine morale and meritocracy.

 

Yunusa Uthman Okumu-Okene, a civil servant, wrote from Kogi State, [email protected]