An Anatomy of Buhari’s Change for Nigerians

The word ‘CHANGE’ has been the anthem of the All Progressives Congress (APC) since the beginning of their campaign up to the time they won election on 28th March and 11th April 2015. The ‘Change’ has since become a household name to anyone who loves General Buhari as a leader with concern for people’s welfare.

The word ‘Change’ is not an easy word to define but can be explained to mean ‘to make a nature or content different from what it is. It can also be said to be ‘the process of becoming different’. With indeterminate clear meaning of the word change, it is not surprising that many commentators, writers and political analysts and a man on the street give the word ‘Change’ a meaning of their wishful thinking. But the brand of Buhari’s change is about good governance for the benefit of the larger society. It is a change from state of injustice to the state of justice for all, it is a change in the interest of present and future Nigeria, it is a change from stagnation to growth and sustainable development, it is a change from indiscipline and disorderly to disciplined and orderly Nigerians, it is a change from low productivity to higher productivity nation, it is a change from corrupt society to honest and sincere society etc. In fact, the majority of Nigerians that voted Buhari into power have done so simply because they believe in his sincerity, honesty and his incorruptible posture over a long period of time to date to bring change that will impact their lives. During his electioneering campaign, he assured Nigerians that he will address challenges and issues that are hindering the provision of basic amenities to them, insecurity of their lives and properties, address corruption issue and unemployment among others.

From his long accepted character and life style, Buhari will never fight a war (as General) knowing he will gain nothing after winning. This is a war Buhari is out to win and gain for a well thought direction for change and not on a simplistic meaning people give to the word change. From what I have read and heard from Gen. Buhari, his idea of change is for the common good towards improving the quality of life of Nigerians in a sustainable manner through a change from bad governance to good governance.

According to development literature, Good governance is a government that observes rule of law, participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive. It assures that corruption is minimized, the views of minorities are taken into account and that the voices of the most vulnerable in society are heard in decision-making. It is also responsive to the present and future needs of society.

General Buhari’s government will ensure fair legal frameworks that are enforced impartially. It will also ensure full protection of human rights, particularly those of minorities, impartial enforcement of laws and will establish independent judiciary, an impartial and incorruptible police force and all other security operatives.

Buhari’s government will practice community participatory budgeting and planning that is to say bottom-top approach as against top-bottom approach. This will ensure addressing the real felt needs of the people with their full participation, thus, providing their needs and welfare in a sustainable manner.

The APC government will ensure equity and inclusiveness as a change to provide opportunity for all Nigerians. Considering the fact that majority of Nigerians particularly the less privileged and poor people voted for APC with Gen. Buhari as the president-elect, the new government comes May 29th in its change drive will ensure that Nigerian’s well being will be improved and will be carried along as stakeholders in decision making process in true democratic environment.

The government will give all communities in Nigeria particularly the minority, less privileged and poor people, opportunities to improve or maintain their well being. Indeed, 2015 election was truly democratic where majority of Nigerians voted candidates of their choice to lead and manage their affairs.
Change for APC government is to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the management of public resources. Public resources were mismanaged, no budget discipline, contracts awarded at will with little concern if any to due process.

Good governance means that processes and institutions produce results that meet the needs of society while making the best use of resources at their disposal. The concept of efficiency in the context of good governance also covers the sustainable use of natural resources and the protection of the environment. This is in tune with President-elect’s intent to improve the quality of life of all Nigerians through well designed people’s oriented policies and programs to be implemented, monitored and evaluated to ensure good result in the most efficient manner. In fact, fiscal responsibility and public procurement laws will be fully implemented for efficient management of public funds for the benefit of Nigerians as against the few in Nigeria today.

Change to Buhari in the public service is to improve performance of civil service for higher productivity. Change in the public service and civil servants, it will not be business as usual. The change will be from I don’t care attitude to better performance in providing service delivery and higher productivity for sustainable development.

The public sector under Gen. Buhari like the private will be vision and mission driven. The civil service will be result oriented.

Millennium Development Goals (MDG), NEPAD, Vision 202020, APC policy recommendations for all the sectors should form the basis for Strategic and operational plans with their monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plans for implementation. These will be the driving tools for providing services in all the sectors of the economy for sustainable development.

The government will sanitize and continue to implement Nigeria Public Service Reform initiated by the former president Olusegun Obasanjo. However, there are some laudable on-going reforms that the President-elect could consider to continue. For example, public service reform in Nigeria 1999-2007, health sector reform/national health strategic development plan/primary health care under one roof/ward health system and many more reforms. Many State governments have started implementing the said reforms. The APC Government should support these reforms in the interest of Nigerians. All sectors/MDAs should be vision and mission driven with community participation in budgeting and planning, tracking and monitoring implementation for result.
The Vision Statement is:

“Public Governance by a Public Service Driven by Public Officers of Impeccable Character and Integrity, Custodians of National Interests and Values, Experts in the Business of Government and the Management of Resources and Talents, for Efficient Service Delivery and Accelerated National Development to Meet the Challenges of a Globalized World”.
The Mission Statement is to:
“Build a Public Service that is performance and results oriented, customer driven, investor friendly, professional, technologically sensitive, accountable, fostering partnerships with all stakeholders and committed to a continuous improvement in Government business and the enhancement of overall national productivity”.

The President-elect during his electioneering campaign stated that if elected his government will only work with qualified, committed and honest people. This is in line with the vision and mission of public sector reform in Nigeria sighted above. The said reform is the new direction for all Nigerian public and private sector to fully implement so as to move the country forward, improve quality of people’s life and ensure sustainable development.

The concept of selfless service, discipline and concern for humanity are virtually gone, today it is self service, indiscipline and poor concern for others. Under Gen. Buhari’s government a democratized form of War Against Indiscipline is highly desirable through teaching moral and civic education in schools and homes, re-orientation of Nigerians to be patriotic and humanitarian making life easier for others. During Buhari’s regime, the concept and practice of leadership will be taught in schools so as to have good leaders in the future. Honest leaders and followers will be identified and rewarded and corrupt ones will be sanctioned as deterrent.

A well known business icon and philosopher, Thomas A. Edison characteristically said, ‘there is a better way of doing things-find it’. Edison could probably had Buhari in mind because the General has indeed found the way by his intent to apply the ideals of good governance in running his government to bring the desired change for the benefit of Nigerians comes May 29th 2015. However, all Nigerians have to be patient and supportive to APC government led by Gen. Buhari allowing him and his lieutenants, reasonable time to repair the damages done to the system. We should know change is gradual and takes time to realize it. God blesses the Federal Republic of Nigeria and guide all the leaders elect to serve the interest of Nigerians making life easier for them for now and future.

Bello A. Bello Gidadawa
TA-PHC/HMDG
Sokoto State Primary Health Care Development Agency
belloabello@yahoo.co.uk
08035185471