Couple of recent developments in the executive and legislative branch of Nigerian government will help to deepen and institutionalize democracy in Nigeria. It appears that president Buhari and members of the National Assembly are either getting good advice or have decided to start doing the right thing, so they can improve their chances of getting re-elected. If what prompted this action is the later, it means that democracy which is the government of the people by the people for the people is working the way it is designed to work.
President Buhari on Friday, June 8, 2018 signed the bill which granted financial autonomy to the 36 State Houses of Assemblies and the State Judiciaries. Granting the two branches financial autonomy means that they will not have to depend on the state governors for their finances which effectively crippled them in the past and turned them into stooges of the governors. To say that this is a big development is an understatement. The state Judiciaries and State Houses of Assemblies has been freed. Their independence has been restored. The most frustrating aspect of the fourth republic which started in 1999 has been the inability of the State Houses of Assemblies and State Judiciaries to assert themselves. It is the major reason why all corruption cases initiated by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission was moved to federal courts because it was impossible for governors and State officials to be tried in state Courts.
Nigerians should congratulate the federal executive and National Assembly members for a job well done. They should be congratulated when they do the right thing and condemned when they do the wrong thing. Nigerians and Nigeria democracy are the winner. Nigerians need to exercise patients because it will take a while before they will start seeing the benefit of yesterday’s action by the president. It takes a while for prisoners to realize that they are free. It is only when they realize the extent of their new-found freedom will they start flexing their muscle which will in turn benefit all Nigerians. State Assemblies and State Judiciaries own it to Nigerians to manage the money allocated to them responsibly. If not, the governors will say that that they have been proven right.
Financial autonomy for the Local Government Areas should be next. It is true that Local Government Area (LGA) governments are riddled with corruption but that does not negate the fact that Local Government is necessary if we want to bring government closer to the people. What is required is that war on corruption must be extended to the Local Government level before local governance will work the way it is designed to work. Fourth tier of government which should be called community or Township government should be established so each community or Town can set up Township or community government if they wish under the umbrella of the Local Government. Local government laws should supersede Township or Community governments just like federal laws supersedes State laws. People feel empowered when government is closer to them. State and Local Government should also be allowed to establish their own police force if Nigerians wants rampant crime to disappear or at least be brought under control. Locals knows the criminals among them which cannot be said of the current highly centralized federal police force.
President Buhari should also be commended for moving democracy day to June 12 in honor and commemoration of MKO Abiola who won a clear and fair election before his election was cancelled by the military government lead by former military President Babangida. Moving democracy day to June 12 is a powerful symbol Nigerians can relate to instead of the original date of May 29. If current meaningful policies such as the three policies that took place within the past week continues, Nigeria will be a different place in few years. Good policies will lead to good governance which in turn improves life of all citizens and residents of those nations.