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By Sadiq Muhammed
Our system encourages corruption, evident in assigning crucial roles like conducting elections with meagre salaries. Expecting individuals to meet essential needs such as housing, education, and healthcare on such limited income creates a breeding ground for corruption.
The call for electoral reform goes beyond mere adjustments; a comprehensive overhaul of staff enumeration in institutions like the judiciary and police is crucial.
High responsibilities coupled with inadequate pay tempt employees.It is imperative to reassess the compensation of civil servants. In a challenging economic climate where a litre of fuel costs nearly N700, the disparity between responsibilities and salaries fosters a temptation to sabotage the system.
Prioritization is skewed when leaders allocate funds for non-essential expenses like yachts and extravagant budgets for government offices, while essential services suffer.
Leadership has become a lucrative venture, deterring individuals from pursuing businesses. Government-sponsored trips, like sending 1,500 people to COP 28 in Dubai exemplify a misplaced focus on personal gain rather than addressing the needs of the people. The desperation seen in election officials during the electoral process is partially fuelled by inadequate compensation.
Judges earning less than N400,000 or police commissioners earning less than N600,000 are susceptible to inducements during election tribunals.
This dangerous trend, exemplified by attacks on electoral officials, poses a threat to the system. To prevent self-help mechanisms that may undermine the system, the government must earn the trust of the people by demonstrating fairness and just dealings.
Overspending on non-essential items while citizens struggle breeds discontent and could lead to drastic actions.
The government must heed this warning, as a wise word is sufficient.
Muhammed wrote from Life Camp, Abuja and can be reached at email: [email protected]
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