In the present day, allow us to mourn the passing of a beloved future helper in Nigeria, our Nigeria, Comrade Meritocracy, who has been with us earlier than our so-called independence. Nobody is aware of for certain how outdated he was, since his start data had been way back misplaced within the labyrinthine state of our unusual forms in our advanced federation. He shall be remembered as having cultivated such useful classes as:
The brightest and one of the best from colleges shall be first employed;
Recruitment could be by federal character however promotion is by advantage;
Efficiency metrics can’t be ignored in promotion;
How lengthy and the way properly go collectively;
No ‘it-is-my-turn’ syndrome…
Comrade Meritocracy lived by easy, sound rules of high quality first earlier than federal and different characters and respectable attributes (not mere males of simply amount, are in cost).
His well being started to deteriorate quickly when males of simple virtues started to take management of our political and social affairs; when ‘rule of males’ started to exchange ‘rule of legal guidelines’.
Experiences of unworthy candidates who trooped to job screening centres with wrapped notes on letterheads from the powers and principalities – simply to get the out there jobs solely worsened his situation. Then loss of life struck when information of candidates who obtained distinctions in matriculation examinations weren’t supplied admissions due to the morons from barons who needed to be admitted to acquire levels received to him.
Sure, Meritocracy really sustained accidents when ‘suave dodgers’ within the federal forms appeared into the seeds of time and got here up with inside examinations for directorate and permanent-secretary cadres for promotions nurtured by federal character monitoring spirits.
The enduring Comrade turned a nasty ulcer that thrived on the medicines utilized to it when even the very influential safety and supreme intels communities, which as soon as celebrated sagacity and artfulness too succumbed to the vagaries of anyhow recruitments, no because of the highly effective lawmakers and unquestionable cupboard members who really useful their constituents of slightly studying, which Alexander Pope, says is harmful to the dominion.
Yeah, Comrade Meritocracy misplaced the need to reside as even many faith-based organisations turned enterprising, and criminals obtained higher remedy than their victims.
Mr. Advantage… took a beating whenever you started to take orders out of your never-do-well juniors who’ve been curiously promoted, because of a authorized federal and not-so-federal characters which have empowered our unethical senior bureaucrats whose god is their stomach.
Meritocracy lastly gave up the need to reside the opposite day after a neophyte in an apex anti-graft company was compulsorily certified when the authorities had been instructed by the umpires that their most popular candidate wasn’t match for that function. And pronto the ‘certified’ govt chairman failed integrity check and was instructed to go residence unscathed.
Meritocracy was preceded in loss of life, by his mother and father, Integrity and Competence, by his spouse, Distinction, by his daughter, Productiveness, and by his son, Excellence.
He’s survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
Nigeria Belongs To My Ancestors
I Can Be Head With out Competence
I Can Now Get Rich With out Work: It’s About Who I do know
Nigeria Is Flip By Flip, Not By Advantage
Not many attended his funeral as a result of solely few realised he was gone. In the event you nonetheless keep in mind him, move this on. If not, be a part of the bulk and do nothing.
This suave adaptation of an obituary stated to be printed within the London Instances on the loss of life of Frequent Sense and posted on-line by Ian Armstrong is a name to motion by the current authorities in Nigeria, notably in regards to the loss of life of Meritocracy and enthronement of Mediocrity, which has surprisingly develop into a “elementary goal and directive precept of state coverage”.
In at present’s Nigeria, none of even our first-class graduates from the households of the poor can get employment within the nationwide and sub-national civil providers. Solely the relations of our political leaders, navy, safety and intelligence company leaders get recruited into all of the providers. Nobody will get any jobs, any promotions, something with out understanding somebody. Your distinction, your excellence in colleges or coaching establishments doesn’t make a means for you anymore in our new Nigeria.
Now the malaise has crept into admissions to first era and first-grade tertiary establishments. In sure establishments at federal and state ranges, your excessive scores in matriculation examinations might not assure you admissions to review sure skilled programs corresponding to Medical/Well being Science, Regulation, Pc Science/Engineering, Structure, Communications/Journalism, and many others. In our new Nigeria not many are noticing, solely the wards of relations and household pals of our highly effective individuals who most occasions carry out poorly in matriculation examinations can acquire admission to review profitable programs, regardless of the strictness and surveillance of the Admissions and Matriculation Board. Some highly effective Nigerians nonetheless have their means. That is with out prejudice to some tertiary establishments that remember advantage an important deal.
And right here is the factor, there have to be radical revival of the Civil Service on the federal and state ranges. The Tinubu administration should cleared the path to restructure and disrupt the civil service and be sure that the ‘energy of resurrection’ comes from above to the Federal Civil Service. Pressident Tinubu should be aware that the Federal Civil Service, which ought to set the tone for Meritocracy within the polity too is gone! There have to be an intentional revival if the way forward for our nice nation means something to the present management.
Right here is the conclusion of the entire matter: Nigeria, a nation as soon as bursting with promise and potential, has slowly however certainly succumbed to the suffocating grip of mediocrity. The very material of our society, as soon as woven with the threads of meritocracy, has been torn asunder, leaving in its wake a path of despair, frustration, and disillusionment. The consequence of this malaise is a nation the place competence is sacrificed on the altar of connection, and excellence is eclipsed by expediency.
In each sphere of Nigerian life, the cankerworm of mediocrity has eaten deep, leaving a gaping chasm between what we aspire to be and what now we have develop into. Our universities, as soon as bastions of educational excellence, now admit college students primarily based on components apart from advantage. The notion {that a} scholar’s tutorial prowess is the first criterion for admission has given approach to a system the place connections, bribery, and nepotism maintain sway.
The results of this systemic rot are far-reaching. Our universities churn out graduates who’re ill-equipped to compete within the world market. These graduates, a lot of whom have by no means been challenged to excel academically, are then unleashed on a society that calls for innovation, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. The result’s a workforce that’s woefully unprepared to drive the nation’s improvement.
The state of affairs is not any higher within the job market. Advantage, as soon as the gold commonplace for hiring, has been relegated to the background. Jobs are actually secured primarily based on who , fairly than what . This has created a tradition of entitlement, the place people really feel that they deserve a job merely due to their connections, fairly than their {qualifications} or expertise.
The results of this strategy are dire. Incompetence is rewarded, whereas competence is punished. The perfect and brightest are pushed to despair, as they watch much less certified people safe jobs and promotions primarily based on their connections. This has led to a mind drain, as a lot of Nigeria’s most gifted people search alternatives overseas, the place advantage remains to be valued.
However the influence of mediocrity goes past the person. It has far-reaching penalties for the nation as an entire. When incompetence is rewarded, it creates a tradition of complacency, the place people really feel that they’ll get away with subpar efficiency. This has led to a decline in productiveness, as people are usually not challenged to excel.
Moreover, the enthronement of mediocrity has led to a scarcity of accountability. When people are appointed to positions primarily based on their connections, fairly than their {qualifications}, they don’t seem to be held accountable for his or her efficiency. This has created a tradition of impunity, the place people really feel that they’ll get away with something.
The results of celebrating mediocrity are evident in each sphere of Nigerian life. Our infrastructure is in shambles, our economic system is struggling, and our training system is in disaster. The query is, how did we get right here?
The reply lies in our willingness to sacrifice advantage on the altar of expediency. Now we have created a system the place connections and nepotism are valued greater than competence and excellence. Now we have forgotten that the easiest way to construct a powerful nation is to reward advantage, fairly than mediocrity.
So, what’s the means ahead? The reply is easy: we should return to the rules of meritocracy. We should create a system the place competence and excellence are rewarded, fairly than connections and nepotism. We should maintain people accountable for his or her efficiency, fairly than their connections.
This may require a elementary shift in our values and attitudes. We should recognise that advantage will not be a grimy phrase, however fairly the important thing to constructing a powerful and affluent nation. We should create a tradition the place excellence is valued, and incompetence will not be tolerated. The duty forward won’t be simple. It’s going to require braveness, dedication, and a dedication to excellence. But when we’re to construct a nation that’s worthy of our potential, we have to be keen to make the required sacrifices.
In conclusion, the loss of life of advantage and the enthronement of mediocrity in Nigeria is a tragedy of epic proportions. It has led to a decline in productiveness, a scarcity of accountability, and a tradition of impunity. However it’s not too late to vary course. We should return to the rules of meritocracy, and create a system the place competence and excellence are rewarded. Solely then can we construct a nation that’s worthy of our potential.
The ability of meritocracy in a democracy has a number of accolades and attributes. Listed here are a few of them:
Promotes Competence: Meritocracy ensures that probably the most competent people maintain positions of energy, main to higher decision-making and governance.
Encourages Equity: By rewarding people primarily based on their abilities and achievements, meritocracy promotes equity and equality of alternative.
Fosters Innovation: Meritocratic programs encourage innovation and creativity, as people are incentivised to develop new concepts and options to advance.
Environment friendly Allocation of Assets: Meritocracy ensures that sources are allotted effectively, as probably the most succesful people are tasked with managing them.
Accountability: Meritocratic programs promote accountability, as people are held chargeable for their actions and choices.
As I as soon as requested right here, can we re-brand Nigeria the place mediocrity is king?
