By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Prof. Charles Nwekeaku of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi has made a case for decentralization of power to make the country more effective.
He made the demand while delivering the 47th inaugural lecture of the institution with topic “New Public Management, National Development and Transformation in a Globalized World” on Wednesday in Keffi.
The don also advocated private and market sector driven public policies, programmes and projects to ensure consistent effectiveness and waste reduction in the country.
He said the unprecedented wave of globalization, occasioned by advancement in information, communication and technology has collapsed the national boundaries.
“National development has been a thorn in the flesh of post independent African States and other emerging and developing economies despite the existence of enormous human and material resources that could be harnessed and mobilized for national development and transformation.
Prof. Nwekeaku, a Professor of New Public Management, Department of Public Administration noted that effective harnessing and constant mobilization of human and natural resources for national development and transformation, as encapsulated in the 2030 Agenda of the international community, require a political will of the national leadership, functional education, skilled manpower, rule of law, accountable, good and transparent governance, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit.
He lamented that the country depends on foreigners for everything.
“Today, we depend on foreigners for everything, and what is happening. And so, and I believe that the problem is our marriage with new, old, traditional public administration.We need to change it, and embrace new public management, which emphasises innovation, creativity, transparency, yes, good governance, and then it recommends, it emphasises that government should be lean
Citing the prosecution of the civil war of 1967 to 1970, he said the Biafran side exhibited ingenuity and creativity.
“They produced first inter-ballistic missile called the Ogbunigwe. Why can’t Nigeria produce anything again.
He said the then Biafran People’s Council had decentralized leadership structures that responded quickly to war needs. This he said made them to sustain the war for three years.
“You don’t have to be bogus. Here, we have bloated bureaucracy, but new public management emphasises less bureaucracy, and so that things will move forward.And it emphasises committee system, so that everything, it emphasises decentralisation of power and authority, so that decision making and implementation will happen at every level, without waiting directly from the hub.
“And so, that is why we have Nigeria. We have resources, but we don’t produce anything. We have qualified people, nothing is happening.
“And so, we believe in ethnicity, tribalism, federal character system, and these things have not helped Nigeria to move forward.”
