A few good men

Mr Ibraheem Abdul-Hameed Labaeka resigned recently from his position as Special Assistant (Artiste) to the Kwara State Governor, Abdul-Rahman Abdul-Razaq, citing discomfort with receiving a salary for a role in which he had no specific duties.  This singular move signalled that no matter how corrupt a country becomes, there will always be some chaste citizens. Like Labaeka, however, they will remain irrelevant and even irritating to those that currently control power.

In his resignation letter dated September 12th 2024, Labaeka expressed deep concerns over his inability to meaningfully contribute to the administration. The letter read, “I accepted the offer because I saw it as a call to service and an opportunity to showcase my talents. Regrettably, I have not been able to achieve any of these things.”

According to the Ilorin indigene described as a popular Islamic singer with an angelic voice and soulful sound, “Aside from the fact that I don’t have a specific schedule of duty, circumstances have not availed me the opportunity to perform my responsibilities maximally. Therefore, since my appointment is based on public trust. I cannot continue to break that trust by taking a salary for doing nothing.”

Pocketing a salary or even series of salaries for some ‘lucky’ few, for not doing anything is the dream job for most Nigerians. The SA instead informed the governor that, “As an Islamic cleric, it is against my beliefs and I haven’t been at peace with myself. So, I want my salary to be stopped immediately.” Is Ibraheem from the moon or Jupiter?

He is more probably a meek messenger to remind us and especially political office holders about accountability and probity concerning public trust. Corruption is against all the religious beliefs canvassed by Nigerians and contrary to the universal human conscience. To continue collecting salary without discharging any service or duty and without feeling discomfort with being paid for work we are not actually performing is pure perfidy.

It is as evil as embezzling money in your trust. It is also as common as the ghost-workers syndrome and absentee employees some of who were recently traced to Europe, Canada and the US. Local governments are not even left out as political office holders put the names of their children, wives, relations, friends and associates on the public payroll. The bureaucrats then proceed to share and sell the remaining job opportunities to the highest bidders. Clearly, it is corrupt civil servants in cahoots with putrid politicians who carry on such shenanigans.

Corruption did not start today but it must end very soon for the survival and sustainability of the nation. The consensus of secular and spiritual scholars alike is that a state can endure under unbelief but crumbles if injustice prevails. Nigeria has never seen higher manifestations of abuse of office, inequality, discrimination, prejudice, misappropriation and unfairness as under this democratic dispensation. The urgency for curtailing corruption is at its highest now that even emergency interventions and palliatives are plundered.

A good starting point in curbing the cancer is choosing the correct type of leaders. The recruitment process presently seems too porous. As things are, a company secretary or a factory guard get more grilled than a gubernatorial, senatorial, ministerial or even presidential candidate. This explains why the majority of the most prominent public office holders today have active case-files at one or more of the anti-graft agencies. Antecedents of all prospective power-holders need to be more thoroughly ascertained.

Proactive promotion of probity in public and private affairs is next. Punishment and reward systems need to be reinvigorated. In late August, the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company rewarded a staff Auwal Dankode who found and returned $10,000 while cleaning an aircraft in Kano. He was promoted and appointed brand ambassador. Last year September, Auwalu Salisu, a 22-year old commercial tricycle driver returned missing N15 million to its owner in Kano. He was offered N250 million in scholarship awards. Labaeka needs to be conferred with a national honour and promoted to a more prominent position either at the state or federal level.

Justice needs to both be done and seen to be done. The starting point here is paying workers living as opposed to minimal wages. This eliminates the temptation to take the path of dishonesty. Plea bargains in which plunderers forfeit just fractions of their loot and serve the shortest sentences provided in the statutes are also clearly not working.  Prolonged prosecution processes also tantamount to denial of justice. Capital punishment can even be considered for the aggravated and severe cases of corruption.

Lastly, the choice of title for this piece is poignant as the 1992 film of the same name explores the themes of honour, truth and service to the fatherland. Cutting the outrageous cost of governance by weeding out worthless workers at all levels of public service is the patriotic path to follow. Governors should stop competing on the number of special and senior assistants and advisers they attach to their offices. The ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) at federal, state and local government level need not be overloaded with idle and redundant and mostly unqualified personnel. The season of jobs for the area men, boys and women must end because recurrent expenditure now gulps the bulk of budgetary provisions to the detriment of provision of vital infrastructure and services.