- By Vincent G Uba
It is not only surprising but quite unfortunate that the news of the relocation of certain agencies and departments of federal parastatals have been generating controversies. The unsavoury comments in this regard are politically and tribally tainted and unnecessary.
In every civilised and developed clime, headquarters and all departments of the federal government agencies are not necessarily cited in the federal capital. They are located where they have comparative advantage, where there is ease of administration and less logistic costs.
Yes, where it is more profitable, more so, when it is not constitutionally given that all headquarters of agencies or departments should be restricted to the federal capital. It takes a leader who understands all these to try to do the needful.
In the history of Nigeria, we have not had a technocrat as leader; we have not had an accountant of international repute and an administrator per excellence as a president.
Nigeria is now lucky to have a president who is a tested administrator and whose administrative competence and know-how are playing out currently. We now have a man as president whose exposure and experience as a renowned accountant of international repute have started to yield dividends of quality leadership.
This president, with his profession and wealth of experience, knows that for agencies and parastatals to function optimally, certain frameworks and structures must be put right. Hence an obvious need to relocate some of these agencies or departments to where they have comparative advantage.
Rather than input tribal sentiments to these sound administrative changes, we should be concerned about the long-term overall results. We should look at the benefits accruable from the action nationally.
What this president has done so far should have started to endear him to the citizenry. See how he is fighting corruption head on like never before in the history of the country, without minding whose oxen are gored.
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See how the federal capital territory is being sanitised, using Nyesom Wike as the minister. As a result of this, some disgruntled elements are using kidnapping to sabotage his efforts.
At the beginning, see how he fearlessly and courageously removed fuel subsidies that past presidents were afraid to touch, even with a long pole, for fear of the cries of the citizens because of the hardship associated with it. The question is should a loving parent refuse to administer bitter pills to his children just because they will cry? No responsible father will refuse to give painful remedies to make sure the children become sound health-wise.
Yes, things and times are hard partly because of the inherited problems from past administrations on the one hand and fuel subsidy removal on the other. The pains and economic hardship we experience now are like the pains suffered when a loving and caring parent administers bitter pills to sick children, which if not done, may result in their death.
Patience is what every Nigerian should exercise. We need to be patient with the president who has not even spent a year in office. Let us give him time and stop being quick in condemning. Things are certainly going to be better.
- Uba is the National Coordinator, No Alternative to Tinubu Shettima 2023 (NATTS2023)