By Thompson Yamput
Dr Hassan Saliu, a Lecturer at the Department of Political Science, University of Ilorin, Kwara on Monday urged the Federal Government to bridge the widening gap between it and citizens for national development.
The don made the appeal in his remarks at the Birthday Ceremony of Prof. Usman Ugbo, Rector , Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja.
In his paper titled: “Towards Promoting a Robust Government-Citizens Relationship in Nigeria,” Saliu described the “gulf” between government and the citizens as a “cancerous disease” that required urgent cure from both government and citizens.
Saliu said that the difficulties government is facing in mobilising people for national goals, “stems from the disjointed government-citizen relationship, which is grossly retarding national development.”
“This is because citizens no longer exhibit past values of bonding with governments just as Nigerians, who see governments as aliens to their daily lives amidst spiraling costs.
He noted that the Federal Government’s situation is relatively better, compared to the state administrations and Local Government Councils (LGCs), which have alarming disconnections.
According to him, this unfortunately undermines democracy’s success and reliant on active citizen support.
“Blurred communication between people and government hinders progress in any democratic society.
“How can we, in that unfortunate relationship, expect the country to progress?.
“It has never happened and cannot happen because the foundation for it is not yet there,” he said.
As a solution, the don called for the need for the government to adjust its politics to accord recognition to Nigerians in the governing process.
“Government should promote conversations, aligning the attitude of politicians to the prevailing situation in the country, review of policies to make them deliver to the satisfaction of the citizens.
“It must also recognize the fact that democracy can only make impression when it delivers its dividends to the people and urgent need for governments to come out clean on the unnerving situation in the country.
“To me, Nigerians need to get value for their investments in democracy for them to bond with their governments,” he said.
He expressed the hope that our leaders would realize the necessity for galvanizing domestic support for the overall development of the country.
According to him, some of these recommendations, if implemented, can turn things around for the better in government-citizens relationship in Nigeria for the attainment of the desired development in the country. NAN
