In this piece by Professor Babs Fafunwa, former Education Minister, he takes a look at the contributions of professionals to the development of the Nigerian nation nand concludes that had they been more pro-active, taking more than a passing interest in the politics of development, the Nigerian nation would have been spared this sorry pass it has gotten itself into. But he opines that there is still time to save the nation.
When Nigeria became independent in 1960, the entire world stood up to cheer. Every Nigerian, young and old, men and women, literate and non-literate celebrated our attainment of self-determination with resounding pride that echoed around the world.
Within forty years of our independence we built fifty universities and increased our school population from a mere five million to eighteen million. We acquired 26 aircraft, several ships, built teaching hospitals and roads, established banks and insurance companies, beer factories, etc. We also contributed armed forces and police to the United Nation’s Peacekeeping units around the world and championed the war against apartheid in the U. N. General Assembly.
But alas, these phenomenal achievements were rapidly discounted due to poor leadership, greed, corruption in the police force and in the civil and public services, a weak judiciary, lack of patriotism, absence of maintenance culture and poor public enlightenment programme. Above all, uncertainty of sanction, that is to say, that an offender had about a ninety per cent chance of getting away with his offence and only ten per cent or even less of getting punished.
Three tragedies befell Nigeria within forty years of our independence: one, the Awolowo Treason Trial and its aftermath; two, the coups of 1966; and three, the Civil War of 1966 to 1970.
Basically each event triggered off the next and they formed a chain that linked together led to the Civil War.
We the EDUCATED NIGERIANS, particularly the professionally trained Nigerians, have failed our fellow Nigerians. Yes, there were lone voices here and there — shades of Tai Solarin, Aminu Kano, Sawaba, Funmilayo Ransomo-Kuti, Michael Imodu and a few brave journalists and columnists.
How many of our professional bodies have ever disciplined or sanctioned any of their members for corruption or “acts unbecoming of a member of their noble profession”? Are our professional bodies part of the problem or part of the solution . Let us identify some of the most prominent professional bodies and groups: the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Medical Association, the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the Institute of Chartered Accountants, ANAN, the Nigerian Institute of Bankers, the Nigerian Institute of Directors, the Nigerian Institute of Surveyors, the Association of Senior Civil Servants, all associations of staff and of students of Nigerian universities, colleges of education and polytechnics, the Association of Nigerian School Principals, the Nigerian Union of Teachers, the Nigerian Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce, ASUU, the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce, the Nigerian Institute of Journalists, the Nigerian Institute of Architects, all NGOs, all National Award winners, all Merit Award winners.
We professionals tend to mind our own business, leaving government business in the hands of politicians, as if to say that government business is not our own business too. If not so, how can we explain the disappearance of 25 Nigerian Airway planes out of a total of 26 between 1979 and 1999? Or the illegal sale of our national ships right under our noses? Or the deterioration of our public institutions, such as primary, secondary and tertiaiy education as well as medical infrastructure? Where were we professionals? Charity begins at home! Most of our professional bodies named above have Codes of Conduct, but how many of them have ever applied such codes? With the exception of three or four professional bodies, all the others rarely sanction their erring members, much less reveal any disciplinary action taken. Justice must be seen to be done, even by every professional.
It is not too late to mend! A democratic system is incomplete without an informed public opinion. After five years of democratic rule Nigeria is yet to establish an informed public opinion system to butress and reinforce our fledgling democracy.
WANTED: A COMMITTEE FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE
It is proposed that the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Medical Association, the Nigerian Institute of Bankers and three other associations should assume the responsibility for organising a weekend conference of all the associations listed above. The major items on the agenda should be:
I. How to effectively eliminate corruption in our society: the role of government, professional and other societies, and the general public.
2. How best to ensure good governance at the local, state and national levels.
3. How best to promote good citizenship in Nigeria
Here is a golden opportunity for all professionals and other bodies to stand up and be counted as true Nigerian patriots and defenders of Nigerian democracy, nay Nigerian sovereignty. Nigeria is one of the most blessed nations in the world. It has enormous natural resources still waiting to be tapped. It has abundant and highly developed human resources both at home and abroad. Thousands of our experts are serving other countries in highly sensitive fields, particularly in science and technology.
My dear fellow countrymen and women, LET US ACT NOW! TOMORROW MAY BE TOO LATE. A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE.
