TODAY’S VIEWPOINT IS ON SECURING A NATION THAT WORKS FOR ALL CITIZENS.IT IS WRITTEN BY EMMANUEL DADA, A NATIONAL YOUTH CORP MEMBER CURRENTLY UNDERGOING NATIONAL SERVICE AT PENSIONERS’ FM’S NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT.
Nigeria with its rich natural resources and cultural heritage, has experienced an interesting exodus from colonial rule to independence, and from several military regimes to the now democratic government.
However, despite the promise of democracy usually characterized by free elections, rule of law, respect for human rights and other dividends, many Nigerians still await the tangible benefits that democracy is supposed to deliver.
Nigerians have endured years of military dictatorship, thus, the transition to democracy brought a renewed hope for a better future. Citizens did not only anticipate political freedom but also significant socio-economic advancements.
However, this has not fully represented the reality in Nigeria which has been somewhat complex. While elections are now a frequent and regular feature, the expected improvements in living standards and social services have been slow to materialize as it should in a proper democratic setting.
Therefore, the gap between expectation and reality must be addressed to sustain faith in the democratic system.
The argument here is, as people who have endured the harsh realities of military dictatorship, the democratic programmes aimed at poverty alleviation, economic empowerment, credible elections, equality and respect for human right must be prioritized.
Despite Nigeria’s wealth, economic inequality remains very obvious. A significant portion of the Nigerian population lives below the poverty line, struggling hard to meet basic needs, thus, a call to the government to implement policies that would promote equitable wealth distribution and economic inclusivity of every class of the society to reflect true democratic system.
It is important that the government intensifies its efforts to ensure that these democratic dividends such as proper job opportunities, access to quality education for all, accessible healthcare, and robust infrastructural development are realized for all citizens.
For instance, unemployment, especially among the youth, is a critical point of concern. Therefore creating jobs is essential to harnessing the democratic dividend for this demography. Support for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), and provision of vocational trainings to enable young Nigerians possess marketable skills to compete with peers globally.
Also adequate funding for education, training of teachers and updating school curriculums cannot be overemphasized in creating a robust educational system that caters for the demands of the 21st century.
Furthermore, a healthy population is fundamental to national development, currently, Nigeria’s healthcare system ranks among the lowest in the world, due to the fact that the healthcare system in Nigeria is currently underfunded, and understaffed.
strengthening the healthcare infrastructure, increasing the budget allocation for healthcare services, proper numeration of healthcare workers and ensuring the availability of essential drugs and services are crucial steps the government must embrace to avoid brain drain and maximizing the potentials of this sector.
Lastly, with the current economic realities in Nigeria, there is the need for the average Nigerian to transit from just living to satisfy basic physiological needs such as feeding and accommodation to self-actualization and fulfilment.
Inconclusion, while the country has made certain strides in its democratic journey, the dividends of democracy remain relatively elusive for many. Thus it is imperative that the government adopt more proactive steps to ensure that citizens enjoy the benefits of this system.
