We have elevated mediocrity to the level of a religion in Nigeria. A state government collects monthly subventions from the federal government. It adds little to nothing to the amount collected. Immaterial internally generated revenues. No investment income. No leveraging of the allocation to raise more capital. Recurrent expenditure at over 70 kobo on the naira. No measurable improvements on development outcomes.
The government steals or wastes most of the money. With what is left, it constructs a few kilometers of mostly substandard roads. It builds a few schools (hardware) with no thoughts about the quality of tuition (software) so education outcomes remain deplorable. It builds a few bridges or flyovers (in some cases, just culverts). A few bus stops here and there. And then they invite the president to commission it. The president goes, with all pomp and pageantry, to commission a project that a good town union could have built.
We gather and clap during the commissioning ceremonies. We clap and smile to be noticed as loyal party men and women or simply as good and loyal citizens. Who wants the trouble of government from not clapping? If you complain, EFCC may come knocking. By so doing, mediocrity is enthroned and perpetuated. We dumb down an entire generation. We join hands and continue our dive to the bottom, as bottom-feeders we have all become in this society.
I know this is a whine. I know. Just indulge me. Biko, no vex. I need these outlets to vent so that I don’t overheat and burn my top cylinder gasket.
But after venting, we must demand more. We must! And the demand must be across board: both in the public sector and in the private sector. Both outside and inside our homes. We must reject this new religion of mediocrity.
Remember the permanent voters card. Get it. Now. Better still, join a political party. That is were all the decisions are made.