In the past two weeks, I tried to raise a number of questions on how Nigeria can exemplify Singapore in the achievement of national transformation. In my conclusion I observed that “there are still many harsh and painful policy decisions we will have to make and endure at all levels of our national life if we must reach the land of our dream” as I added, “Singapore did not arrive at the Tiger status overnight. Behind it was a culture of discipline and commitment”.
Most of the Singaporean transformation story is rooted in the personality of its late charismatic leader, Lee Kwan Yu who epitomised passion, patriotism and pride in is nation and people. After circumstantial racial differences forced the demerger of Singapore from the Malaya Federation in 1965, the country took a new definitive course, a long journey on transformation that led her to where she is today as a champion in in global economy, and not just as a regional super-power in South East Asia.
According to Gary Carmell on his blog, the Philosophical Investor, Lee believed that ethical leadership was a vital competitive advantage because it is relatively rare and yet so important to attract the best people and investor capital to support a country’s growth. He captured how Lee framed the importance of ethical leadership thus:
“All countries can harness information technology and air transportation and join the global trading community in goods and services. It helps to close the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged countries. But one “X” factor remains a key differentiator, especially for developing countries: that is ethical leadership…A clean, efficient, rational, and predictable government is a competitive advantage.”
This factor, anchored on integrity, in my estimation drives national productivity, consequently development as in Singapore because it defines the system of leadership recruitment. I have written on integrity in our polity in the past, and I am returning to it here. When premium is placed on integrity and performance in recruiting into public office, that is, when the best and the most suitable are deservedly put in positions of responsibility, the system works.
Even then, we must not discount in ensuring that the principle of distributive justice and equity in the way resources are shared or allocated are strictly adhered such that representatives chosen in a way that gives every stakeholder a sense of belonging. This gives room for peace and development to be pursued.
Significantly too, we must always give room for creativity and innovation in our system of public management in Nigeria. I do not have so much problem with bureaucracy because it is essential that balance, order, discipline, hierarchy and stability must be maintained in public administration and management.
But where I have problem is when some public officials, out of vendetta or fear of displacement stifle initiative from the bottom of the ladder. We can only experience transformation when ideas are allowed to thrive at the grassroots or the common pool too. Our bureaucracy must indeed drive creativity and innovation rather than stultify it.
The rot or the mess that our country is often associated with comes from impunity in virtually in every facet of our public life. When our system is open to abuses and compromise, especially in the delivery or provision of public service, there is no way we can ‘step up’. Hence, we must applaud and indeed support the drive for change and the relentless campaign against corruption in the country now.
There is a saying in most of Asia that Singapore is fine because it is a city of fines. You can hardly escape the law, especially with the deployment of appropriate technologies to monitor compliance. The lesson here is we must also be uncompromising in regulatory enforcement. But there must also be a system in place to ensure that those charged with enforcement and monitoring compliance do not abuse or exploit their discretionary powers.
This attitude or culture of non-compromise in regulatory enforcement is part of what guarantees policy stability or sustainability not only in Singapore but all other countries where citizens are considered law-abiding or where there is conformity. However, on the other hand, managers of the public life and occupants of the public offices must have respect for the rule of law as well. It is symbiotic.
Often, our nation is said not to lack ideas and policies. Implementing our ideas or translating tem into action is where our problem lies. What usually happens is that not much public deliberation attends our policy process. Therefore, they lack stakeholders buy-in and at the implementation stage, it becomes problematic to force down. This seems to suggest that our policy design and processes are not evidence-based.
Good governance is not just an ideal to be hoped or prayed for. It is not to be paid lip service. It must clearly manifest in every facet of our public life. So, adherence to such values as transparency, accountability, equity, accessibility and rule of law should generally hallmark our national evolution and transformation.
The path to transformation is of cause thorny and narrow; the choices in reform are excruciatingly painful and the pills of charge are similarly bitter. But we must be bold and innovative to take the right steps in getting out of our dark tunnel and difficult pass.
- Abdulwarees, a 2007 Commonwealth Broadcasting Association scholar in public policy at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam is Acting Deputy Director, Strategic Planning & Corporate Development at Voice of Nigeria and volunteers for the Muslim Public Affairs Centre, MPAC Nigeria as Director, Media and Strategic Communications: 08090585723, abdulwarees01@gmail.com