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#12 Bill Anakaa Str. off Jonah Jang Cres, Hudco Qurts, Mkd, Benue State

DEMOCRACY AS IF PEOPLE MATTER

While we celebrate our independence as a people from external rule, perhaps, today is also a good day to reflect on how we have fared in the conduct of our affairs as a people. According to Annika Savill, the Executive Head of the United Nations UNDEF democracy fund, a confident nation gives citizens a role in the development of their country; the most effective, stable and successful democracies are in fact those where a strong civil society works in partnership with the state, while holding it accountable at the same time.

However, this is not the case in most African nations, Nigeria inclusive. Every day the gap in our democracy in Nigeria seems to get wide; from the increase in totalitarian tendencies, to the suppression of marginalized voices. Women and youths are often the large brunt bearers of lack of inclusive government in Nigeria. Their poor representation and participation has caused more harm and increase in inequality. Even though there are policies and laws set in place to forestall this, majority of them have suffered from very low implementation.

In the past decade, a good number of policies have been signed into law by the government. This includes the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, Not Too Young to Run, the 35% Affirmative action and some international conventions that support the right of the vulnerable and marginalized in the society.

Looking back at the time since these bills have been signed into law, there has been very low performance. The lack of a strategic implementation plan has led to the forestalling of many of these government policies. Women are still very much discriminated against, their voices are still not well represented in legislations. For instance, In Benue State, only 3 out of 18 commissioners are women, 6 out of 20 are permanent secretaries and just 7 out of 23 are local government Chairmen, with about 15.6 staff of the Nigerian Police being women and only 2 0f 30 members of State House of Assembly are women.

While we do not expect that the change we seek happens in a day, we are expectant of a steady improvement from the ways things used to be. Nigeria is not just considered as the Giant of Africa by its population size alone, she serves the role big sister to many other African states. Nigeria is our cooperate project as a people. Removing a huge chunk of the people that matters from being part of its decision making will make sustainable development an impossible task and disrupt our development as a nation.

As Nigeria marks its 60th anniversary, it is important more than ever to create an inclusive governance where people, young or old, male or female have the right to be heard and decide how they are being ruled, because every voice counts.

Oluwayemisi Ojo

Program Officer, Governance

Eunice Spring of Life Foundation.

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