Nigeria: A Lawmaker and His Human Development Foundation

30 March 2014

Gradually, human capital development is becoming synonymous with Nigerian legislators. Campaign promises are now fulfilled more on gift items than bills sponsored. At all levels of lawmaking, legislators seem to be in competition on how to please their constituents, win their favour and thus be re-elected easily. In Cross River State, like other states of the federation, personal dividends of democracy, which the electorate know include skills acquisition, donation of sewing machines, motor cycles, vehicles, hair dressing equipment, generators, computer accessories, farm implements and inputs, free medical care, etc. Once a legislator is able to donate and provide these, he or she is said to have performed. Effective representation is thus judged on this basis.

Relief This gesture is helping out. In the rural areas of Cross River State, young school leavers without jobs now earn a living from commercial motor cycle business. Women empowered with hair dressing machines now live more decent lives. Business centres have opened in rural communities, ending the era of going to urban centres to print or photo copy documents. Lawmakers who have established vocational centres have done so much to stem rural-urban drift for jobs. It is now easier to get a plumber, electrician, mechanic, welder and other artisans to work for you in your locality. Self-employment, courtesy of some politicians, has become a fad among young people who are serious with their lives and do not want to be a burden to their parents or guardians.

...

AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.