Where Failure Is Free, Nations Pay

Leadership only improves when failure carries consequences, a fundamental principle for maintaining a healthy democracy, writes Dakuku Peterside. This hard discipline of public office ensures that power is tied to responsibility and authority is subject to scrutiny. When consequences are credible, leaders are compelled to think harder, prepare better, listen more carefully, and act with greater urgency. Conversely, weak consequences foster mediocrity and impunity, leading to a decline in national performance.

Peterside observes that while Britain's democracy is imperfect and its politics can be ruthless, its resignation culture, often influenced by media and party calculations, still sends a crucial message: public office is conditional. A minister's career can end due to scandal, policy failure, or loss of confidence, reinforcing that power is not untouchable. This accountability function, though not solving national problems directly, assures citizens that leadership is answerable and that public trust is the bedrock of power.

The author poses a critical question for Nigeria: what consequences do public officials face for their failures? He points to persistent insecurity, where numerous security and intelligence chiefs have not resigned despite citizens remaining unprotected. Communities are attacked, lives are lost, yet those entrusted with national security often remain untouched by the scale of their failures.

Similarly, unreliable power supply persists despite decades of promises, significant funding, and announced reforms. Ministers have repeatedly pledged constant electricity, yet homes remain dark, and businesses rely on generators, with no high-level official appearing to face personal repercussions. Inflation also continues to erode purchasing power, forcing difficult choices upon citizens, while those responsible at the highest levels remain insulated from the impact of these failures.