Flash Back
Last week, we continued our discourse on the powers, limits, extent of appropriation in budget matters by the NASS, vis-à-vis the role of the president. This week, we conclude our thematic analysis.
We shall thereafter, continue with our discourse on Nigeria’s dire need for restructuring: The urgency of now (4).
Canadian budget process
In Canada, the government presents annual federal budgets, which identify planned government spending, expected government revenue, and forecast economic conditions for the upcoming year. Provinces present their budgets after federal’s budget because provincial finances depend on federal government allocation.
The budget is usually announced in the House of Commons by the Minister of Finance, who must traditionally wear new shoes while doing so. The House of Commons, then vote on it. Because budgets serve as confidence measure, if the House votes against it, the government easily can fall, as happened to Prime Minister Joe Clark’s government in 1980. Opposition parties almost always vote against a budget. The governing party enforces strict party discipline, expelling any member of Parliament (MP), who votes against the budget.
Historically, the official opposition used to prepare a complete budget and present this alternative to the Canadian people side by side the main budget. However, in recent years, opposition parties only present certain aspects to criticise.
Initially, the budget process was very secretive with little consultation. At a time one Finance Minister famously typed the entire budget himself so that no secretary would read it. This secrecy was needed to protect upcoming government decisions and undermine the opposition’s response. This later changed, so that most parts of the budget would be released well before its announcement, so as to get feedback from the populace.
The process
The budget process is a complex one. Each year, various departments of government submit what are called ‘The Main Estimates’ to The Treasury Board Secretariat. These documents identify the planned expenditure of each department, linking theses proposed expenses to programmes, objectives and priorities of the current ruling government. The Treasury Board Secretariat combines these budget estimates and compiles an initial proposed budget. From there, the Cabinet and Prime Minister’s Office adjust the budget based on a series of economic, social and political factors. In reality, however, decisions are usually made with the primary object of re-election and so often include advantages for key regions and lobby groups.
Parliament then passes an Appropriation Act (called the ‘Interim Supply’) which allows individual departments to spend 3/12th of their annual budget. This partial authority enables Parliament to spend more time in examining the estimates documents. When Parliament later appropriates full supply in June.
Concluded
Nigeria’s dire need for restructuring: The urgency of now (4)
This week, we return to the urgent need to restructure Nigeria to prevent its avoidable inexorable implosion and breakup through sustained inherent self-contradictions.
Religious divides have created deep rooted enmity between the Northern and the Southern sections of this country. Voters in this nation are swayed by tribal and religious sentiments, rather than by ideology. The elite are the greatest promoters of this national malaise.
It is difficult for Nigeria to make progress in an environment of hostility, belligerence and mutual distrust. This is what the present flawed structure of Nigeria typifies.
Religious differences have been the chief cause of break ups amongst various groups in the world. The North and South Koreans broke up because they practised different faith; Pakistan carved out from India due to religious differences. Southern and northern Sudan went their different ways caused by religious undertone. The list is endless the world over.
The reality
The reality is that Nigerians are living in a state of despair and as Irish-born British statesman and political philosopher, Edmund Burke (1729 – 1797), puts it, “there is a limit at which forbearance ceases to be a virtue”. The time to discuss Nigeria, the time to restructure Nigeria, is now. Because for Nigerians to have an enduring peace and meaningful progress, there must be a consensus of consciousness amongst our people. Peace cannot be built on exclusion, or marginalization. It will only be peace of the cemetery or grave yard – ethereal, unnatural, eerie.
Nigerians from both sides of the divide are resolute and resilient. Majority of Nigerians wish this country works for the good of all. We all wish we can beat our chest with pride about our dear country, Nigeria: A country that affords everyone an opportunity to grow, irrespective of circumstances of birth, social standing, tribe, religious affiliation, creed, or gender.
Nigerians are interdependent. Each region relies on the other for survival. Recently, the scarcity of tomatoes in the North affected the quality of stew in the southern parts of Nigeria. Many homes in the South western states of Nigeria have faithful from two major religions in Nigeria – Christianity and Islam. Each section relies on the other to strike a semblance. Life is about balance. Opposite attracts. The northerners need the zest of the southerners while the southerners need the chariness of the northerners, to create a compound synergy. The rain and the sun, though ecologically different and opposing, are both helpful and needful for the life of a plant – both giving out oxygen. Differences can be leveraged if properly managed.
Ghanaian educator, James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey (1875 – 1927), captured it synchronically when he said, “You can play a tune of sorts on the white keys, and you can play a tune of sorts on the black keys, but for harmony you must use both the black and the white.”
However, with the present unprecedented spate at which Nigerians are expressing displeasure over the way the country is structured, concerned Nigerians are deeply worried about the future of this country. I am one of them.
If the voices of the generality of the masses are not heard logically, some elements may be forced to give voice to their agitations illogically. This is what we are guarding against by the call for an urgent need to restructure Nigeria, as presently constituted. IPOB, the Niger Delta Avengers, Boko Haram, MEND, etc., are examples of elements who may have opted to follow what some regard as illogical part to the solution of restructuring Nigeria. Who knows the next group waiting to emanate? Only an inane man would watch, arms folded, while his home is under flames without making some effort to salvage his personals.
Jeremy Bentham (1748 – 1832), British philosopher, economist, jurist, and social reformer, captured it philosophically, “When security and equality are in conflict, it will not do to hesitate a moment equality must yield.”
There is a clear imbalance in the way the present Nigeria is structured and the only logical way to keep the unity of this nation is by creatively rearranging the present state of things in a way that the wishes and aspirations of generality of Nigerians can be expressed, appreciated and accommodated. Unity is not forced. It is earned, watered and nurtured.
The present structure of Nigeria was a British machinery used as colonial domination to repress and plunder our people, who were ignorant of their true dubious intentions.
What to do
Truth is, if we do not demolish the present colonial structure totally, completely and thoroughly, it would be impossible for us to make progress economically, socially and politically. Historical experience shows that when the people actively participate in the work of establishing their government with awareness of being a main player in the construction of a new nation, the masses of the people can bravely overcome whatever difficulties and obstacles that may arise.
The task before our leaders, therefore, is to quickly educate our people, to be fully awakened and to lead them to join hands to restructure this nation. They should be aware of who defends their interest and who harms their interest, irrespective of religious affiliation or tribal sentiments. Two factors used by the political elite to weep up sentiments and hoodwink the masses into following their treacherous ideas. Just like the British elite used the Royal Niger Company, as a subterfuge to penetrate our people. Religion, says Karl Marx, is an opium of the masses.
We should, therefore, do everything to perseveringly publicise and explain to the people the urgent need to restructure this nation and the various roles they are to play.
Karl XIV Johan (1763 – 1844), French-born Swedish General and monarch, referring to the death of Napoleon I, said: “Napoleon has not been conquered by men. He was greater than any of us. God punished him because he relied solely on his own intelligence until that incredible instrument was so strained that it broke.” We need the collective intelligence and wisdom of the masses to recreate Nigeria. Anyone playing the awkward role of redemptive Messianism is simply out of tune with reality.
To be continue next week.