On the other hand, the people deserve the kind of government they get as
most of them are not skeptical in electing their leaders into positions of
authority. Power belongs to the people
in a true democratic system. Most of these
leaders often embark on massive pleading during electoral process just to grab
authority through legitimacy , however,
the people are ignorant, uniformed and not ready to learn from their past
mistake as they ended up choosing a wrong leader that governs absolutely for
his/her family's interest alone at the expense of national or societal
interest. In Nigeria, politicians often
make streams of promises through their unrealistic manifestoes including free
education for all among others.
Section 8 sub-section 59(d) of the Nigeria National Policy on Education
emphasized on the acquisition of both physical and intellectual skills which
will enable individuals to be self-reliant and useful members of the society,
but reverse is the case as Nigerian leaders have neglected education industry
through lack of adequate funding at all levels of education, low teachers wages
and salaries compared to other civil servants and political office holders,
lack of proper supervision of human and
material resources, low research facilities across various levels of education
among others.
Nigeria leaders are leading by example and worthy of emulation in the
aspect of corruption which has been indirectly legalized and customized across
all sectors in Nigeria including education known as "Academic Corruption".
Nigerians are governed by some group of persons who continue to dominate the
majority and the process of decision making in our political system. They make
laws, policies, implementations and adjudications to suit their individual
interest in government.
However, when it comes to taking a courageous step to capture power from
the so called cabers or political and ruling elites through revolution or coup
de-tat, the people are always frightened or seen at the back making a famous
statement "who won die", they don't want to be seen as enemies or
antagonists, it's unfortunate... Since Nigerians can open their eyes to be deceived
with juicy materials during electoral process, they should also be competent to
bear the consequences for their negligent and irrational decisions. Nigerian
leaders are plainly aware that given qualitative education to the citizens will
go a long way to liberate them as acquisition of valuable and qualitative
education will in turn make every individual functional in all ramifications,
hence agitating for their constitutional rights and civil liberation which may
not be favorable to a self-centered government. They give their children and
relatives a well deserved education with high cost through the tax payer’s
fund, neglecting the children of the masses to tarnish in ignorance, low psychomotor
and cognitive skills thereby turning them to political tools and social miscreants.
Schools are not upgraded and condition of service to teaching and none teaching
staffs is highly discouraging. Holders of higher degrees including PhD and
professors under the umbrella of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU),
Colleges of Education and Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) are known
for their incessant strike in advocating for a favorable condition of service
and provision of basic infrastructure across tertiary institutions of learning
as the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) among others are not left out of this
agitation. It will be of interest to know that all the fundamental requirements
for a sustainable education are been demanded from political leaders that often
possesses lower academic qualifications compare to most secondary schools and
universities teachers.
Convincingly, the challenges confronting education system in Nigeria is
no doubt a question of leadership qualities. Thus, when policies and strategic
plans are drafted by technocrats, implementation and political willingness has
been the constraint of goal achievement in education industry. Nigerians should
however be highly sensitive, skeptical and rational in adopting their leaders
in order to reinstate the ideal education in Nigeria.
- AKINFOLARIN AKINWALE V.
(walexybtg@gmail.com)
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