My Comment:
According to Professor Nwabueze, “The federal character principle enshrined in the 1979 Constitution is predicated upon the view of Nigeria as a house on four pillars, the four pillars being the Hausa/Fulanis, Igbos, Yorubas and the Minorities, and that the edifice will begin to wobble and its stability imperiled if the headship of the federal government is not made to move round these four groups. Nigerian unity demands an acceptance and commitment by all to the principle of rotation, i.e., that ordinarily no two persons from the same group should hold the headship of the federal government in succession. Unless the federal character principle is applied in order to rotate the headship of the federal government among the four groups, its application at the lower levels will not be effective to secure national unity. The danger of disintegration and of demands for a confederal arrangement will continue to stare us in the face.” “The Igbos in the Context of Modern Government and Politics in Nigeria: A Call for Self-Examination and Self-Correction.”, By Prof. Ben O. Nwabueze SAN, 1985 Ahiajoku Lecture.
As conceived, the main objective of the principle of Federal Character was never to position candidates from some parts of the country less competitive in competitive exams or in employment placement exercises than other candidates. In practice and application, the political leaders of our time gave a diabolical interpretation to the concept to the extent that most Nigerian citizens now feel less of a Nigerian than some other citizens. In truth the principle was designed to ensure that the three dominant groups do not suffocate the hundreds of minority tribes and exclude them from the scheme of things at the federal government level. It is about equality, loyalty and unity.
Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution provides:
Without missing words, one cannot help, but blame the unabated education disparities on Northern Governors and their Commissioners for Education from time immemorial. Since the introduction of Federal Character, Quota System and Geographical Spread principles in the Nigerian political system, the political leaders from the geographical north of Nigeria subscribe, without reservation or any sense of shame to the principles as if they are emblems of honor and dignity. And that has been the culture over the years. They imbibe the principles, live and grow with them, without taking the initiative to developing a concerted or regional framework, not just to bridging the education gap between north and south, but with a view to making regular/western education more attractive and mandatory to every child of school-going-age throughout the entire northern region.
Over the years, northern Governors and their Educational Administrators have perfected or taken the Booker T Washington's "Talented Ten" philosophy to a disastrous level. They are willing to provide full scholarship to a significant few, send them overseas and provide them with obscene financial largesse to acquire the reviled western education, and in most cases, to study to PhD level, while millions are left back at home in a state of hopelessness and abject poverty. As always, these "talented ten" would come back home, armed with leadership perquisites and the same reviled western education taught by the reviled white men and not so white men to assume control of political power and industries from where their parents and family friends left off. That is the trend, and until it is reversed or substituted with mass literacy campaign, the situation will remain the same.
More than a year ago, we suggested an integrative model - that is combining Islamic Studies alongside regular subjects as taught in regular schools towards eradicating the almajiris social ills. In that case, those in traditional Quran Schools would have opportunities to experience both worlds. So the dislocated children (almajiris) trooping to Imams and Sheikhs in search of succor and the elusive or disappearing salvation would have the opportunities to learn as kids from other parts of the country.
We should not forget the original mission of NYSC; as long as we are willing to accept Copers to our society, without regards to their cultural and religious background, and protect them and fend for them and be willing to offer them jobs at the end of their service as The Guardian Editorial is suggesting, that would go a long way to improving the graduation rate in the affected states. It requires concerted efforts and willing to accept divergent culture and lifestyle.
Few years ago, in an attempt to spite a Christian President who, by accident of birth, is a southerner, the northern Governors, without reasonable excuse - whether in law, social, economic, or moral - went and embrace Sharia Law hook, line and sinker, and made it the legal norm in the region. The idea was ill-conceived, insensitive undemocratic and counter-productive. As we argued elsewhere on this blog, compulsory, free education at elementary and secondary levels in Nigeria should be the standard, not Sharia Law. Please read our opinion on the issue at
As conceived, the main objective of the principle of Federal Character was never to position candidates from some parts of the country less competitive in competitive exams or in employment placement exercises than other candidates. In practice and application, the political leaders of our time gave a diabolical interpretation to the concept to the extent that most Nigerian citizens now feel less of a Nigerian than some other citizens. In truth the principle was designed to ensure that the three dominant groups do not suffocate the hundreds of minority tribes and exclude them from the scheme of things at the federal government level. It is about equality, loyalty and unity.
Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution provides:
“The composition of the
Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its
affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal
character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to
command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance
of persons from a few State or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in
that Government or in any of its agencies.”
Without missing words, one cannot help, but blame the unabated education disparities on Northern Governors and their Commissioners for Education from time immemorial. Since the introduction of Federal Character, Quota System and Geographical Spread principles in the Nigerian political system, the political leaders from the geographical north of Nigeria subscribe, without reservation or any sense of shame to the principles as if they are emblems of honor and dignity. And that has been the culture over the years. They imbibe the principles, live and grow with them, without taking the initiative to developing a concerted or regional framework, not just to bridging the education gap between north and south, but with a view to making regular/western education more attractive and mandatory to every child of school-going-age throughout the entire northern region.
Over the years, northern Governors and their Educational Administrators have perfected or taken the Booker T Washington's "Talented Ten" philosophy to a disastrous level. They are willing to provide full scholarship to a significant few, send them overseas and provide them with obscene financial largesse to acquire the reviled western education, and in most cases, to study to PhD level, while millions are left back at home in a state of hopelessness and abject poverty. As always, these "talented ten" would come back home, armed with leadership perquisites and the same reviled western education taught by the reviled white men and not so white men to assume control of political power and industries from where their parents and family friends left off. That is the trend, and until it is reversed or substituted with mass literacy campaign, the situation will remain the same.
More than a year ago, we suggested an integrative model - that is combining Islamic Studies alongside regular subjects as taught in regular schools towards eradicating the almajiris social ills. In that case, those in traditional Quran Schools would have opportunities to experience both worlds. So the dislocated children (almajiris) trooping to Imams and Sheikhs in search of succor and the elusive or disappearing salvation would have the opportunities to learn as kids from other parts of the country.
We should not forget the original mission of NYSC; as long as we are willing to accept Copers to our society, without regards to their cultural and religious background, and protect them and fend for them and be willing to offer them jobs at the end of their service as The Guardian Editorial is suggesting, that would go a long way to improving the graduation rate in the affected states. It requires concerted efforts and willing to accept divergent culture and lifestyle.
Few years ago, in an attempt to spite a Christian President who, by accident of birth, is a southerner, the northern Governors, without reasonable excuse - whether in law, social, economic, or moral - went and embrace Sharia Law hook, line and sinker, and made it the legal norm in the region. The idea was ill-conceived, insensitive undemocratic and counter-productive. As we argued elsewhere on this blog, compulsory, free education at elementary and secondary levels in Nigeria should be the standard, not Sharia Law. Please read our opinion on the issue at
You cannot eat your cake and have it. Creation of states as well as creation of local governments are based on the imaginary concept that the geographical north is more populated than the geographical south. That development led to rejection of derivative formula as a basis for revenue allocation. In other words, the more populated you are or you purport to be, the more local councils and states you are allocated. And as expected, the more states and more local councils invariably translate to more revenue allocations from the federation account every month.
Not so surprisingly, and in fact, time and time again, school enrollment and graduation rate tend to put a lie to that population superiority claim - almajiris or no almajiris. This is not an idle talk or a belief influenced by the latest vocabulary in the Nigerian social media world - sentiment. It is a troubling fact.
Few months ago, one of the Governors from the north was reported lamenting the appalling educational standard and low graduation rate in his state in comparison to the advanced level and surging graduation rate in Imo State. He stated further that his own State has millions of people more than Imo State, and while Imo State is graduating millions of children from elementary and secondary schools each year, his own state of millions of more people is graduating couples of thousands. Okay, as a patriotic Nigerian, you would want to sympathize with that Governor for the educational standard that culminates in the scant graduation rate in his state.
Not so surprisingly, and in fact, time and time again, school enrollment and graduation rate tend to put a lie to that population superiority claim - almajiris or no almajiris. This is not an idle talk or a belief influenced by the latest vocabulary in the Nigerian social media world - sentiment. It is a troubling fact.
Few months ago, one of the Governors from the north was reported lamenting the appalling educational standard and low graduation rate in his state in comparison to the advanced level and surging graduation rate in Imo State. He stated further that his own State has millions of people more than Imo State, and while Imo State is graduating millions of children from elementary and secondary schools each year, his own state of millions of more people is graduating couples of thousands. Okay, as a patriotic Nigerian, you would want to sympathize with that Governor for the educational standard that culminates in the scant graduation rate in his state.
But the unasked question remains: where are the remaining millions who are not in school? Are they in the farm? Or in the streets in the cities begging for alms? Where are they? They are nowhere, because they don't exist. In other words, our northern Governors and School Administrators enjoy financial resources sufficient to give every child in the north quality education at a standard comparable in any advanced country of the world. Unfortunately that is not happening; otherwise, all these noise about boko is haram would have been meaningless.
The population superiority myth as well as the un-education of majority of northern children, in spite of the enormous financial advantage they have enjoyed over the years for educational use are troubling issues for SNC advocates who, with due respect, have not been able to frame one cogent argument for convening a Sovereign National Conference, except of course the usual noise of the dominance of our political system by the Hausa/Fulani elite. An argument that is dated and time-worn.
Indeed, the educational standard nationwide is falling, but the situation in the north demands national outrage and a radical overhaul. Seeing pictures of most of the villages attacked and ransacked by the Boko Haram sects, you would be prompted to ask about what happen to civilization and government presence or lack of it in those villages. All around, you see gloomy scene reminding you of medieval era. These are not members of riverine tribes where you could conveniently blame the lack of government presence on accessibility problem. The successive political leaders simply do not care. There is need for an explanation and accountability, because the level of abandonment is not only appalling, but inhuman. Federal Character or Quota System is not the answer - it perpetuates the dominance of a select few. It is time for a new start. See concepts and approaches on this Blog at
Alex Aidaghese.
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