Crime and No Punishment

A recent visit by Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi to the state secretariat exposed a stark reality of absenteeism among top civil servants. On a Monday morning, as late as 11 a.m., offices of several senior officials remained locked, indicating their absence from duty. Governor Namadi encountered only a few low-level staff members, such as messengers, cleaners, and security personnel, at their posts.

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oga is not on seat

This situation highlights a systemic issue within Nigeria's civil service, which the author describes as the "heartbeat of government." The civil service is responsible for formulating and implementing policies, yet it is often characterized by inefficiency, absenteeism, and corruption. Many positions are filled as political favors rather than based on merit, and some civil servants are reportedly drawing salaries while living abroad. The author argues that this deeply flawed system prevents Nigeria from progressing towards becoming a developed nation.

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The civil service, I repeat, is the heartbeat of government. That is the machinery that formulates and implements policies as well as executes the laws and regulations of the land.

The article also points to a concerning incident involving the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC). The CBN director of banking services testified before a House of Representatives committee that the bank opened two domiciliary accounts for the PFIPC, allegedly on the directive of the office of the accountant-general of the federation (OAGF). This testimony came despite the OAGF's earlier categorical denial of issuing any such directive.

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But you know what? We run a country where there is crime but there is no punishment, so to speak.

The author laments a culture where "there is crime but there is no punishment." Civil servants operate under self-made rules that make it exceedingly difficult to dismiss an employee, even for misconduct like absenteeism. The article suggests that such leniency, even for those arriving late or absent, might result in little more than a "flimsy query," if anything at all. This lack of accountability, coupled with the alleged financial irregularities, underscores the deep-seated challenges facing Nigeria's governance.

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He said the bank carried out its standard account-opening procedures before doing so.