TODAY, let us mourn the passing of a beloved destiny helper in Nigeria, our Nigeria, Comrade Meritocracy, who has been with us before our so-called independence. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in the labyrinthine state of our strange bureaucracy in our complex federation. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
The brightest and the best from schools shall be first employed;
Recruitment can be by federal character but promotion is by merit;
Performance metrics can’t be ignored in promotion;
How long and how well go together;
No ‘it-is-my-turn’ syndrome…
Comrade Meritocracy lived by simple, sound principles of quality first before federal and other characters and respectable attributes (not mere men of just quantity, are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when men of easy virtues began to take control of our political and social affairs; when ‘rule of men’ began to replace ‘rule of laws’.
Reports of unworthy candidates who trooped to job screening centres with wrapped notes on letterheads from the powers and principalities – just to get the available jobs only worsened his condition. Then death struck when news of candidates who obtained distinctions in matriculation examinations were not offered admissions because of the morons from barons who had to be admitted to obtain degrees got to him.
Yes, Meritocracy actually sustained injuries when ‘artful dodgers’ in the federal bureaucracy looked into the seeds of time and came up with internal examinations for directorate and permanent-secretary cadres for promotions nurtured by federal character monitoring spirits.
The iconic Comrade became a bad ulcer that thrived on the medications applied to it when even the very influential security and supreme intels communities, which once celebrated sagacity and artfulness too succumbed to the vagaries of anyhow recruitments, no thanks to the powerful lawmakers and unquestionable cabinet members who recommended their constituents of a little learning, which Alexander Pope, says is dangerous to the kingdom.
Yeah, Comrade Meritocracy lost the will to live as even many faith-based organisations became enterprising, and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Mr. Merit… took a beating when you began to take orders from your never-do-well juniors who have been curiously promoted, thanks to a legal federal and not-so-federal characters that have empowered our unethical senior bureaucrats whose god is their belly.
Meritocracy finally gave up the will to live the other day after a neophyte in an apex anti-graft agency was compulsorily qualified when the authorities were told by the umpires that their preferred candidate wasn’t fit for that purpose. And pronto the ‘qualified’ executive chairman failed integrity test and was told to go home unscathed.
Meritocracy was preceded in death, by his parents, Integrity and Competence, by his wife, Distinction, by his daughter, Productivity, and by his son, Excellence.
He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers:
*Nigeria Belongs To My Ancestors
*I Can Be Head Without Competence
*I Can Now Get Wealthy Without Work: It’s About Who I know
*Nigeria Is Turn By Turn, Not By Merit
Not many attended his funeral because only few realised he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.
This artful adaptation of an obituary said to be printed in the London Times on the death of Common Sense and posted online by Ian Armstrong is a call to action by the present authorities in Nigeria, notably about the death of Meritocracy and enthronement of Mediocrity, which has strangely become a “fundamental objective and directive principle of state policy”.
In today’s Nigeria, none of even our first-class graduates from the families of the poor can get employment in the national and sub-national civil services. Only the family members of our political leaders, military, security and intelligence agency leaders get recruited into all the services. No one gets any jobs, any promotions, anything without knowing someone. Your distinction, your excellence in schools or training institutions doesn’t make a way for you anymore in our new Nigeria.
Now the malaise has crept into admissions to first generation and first-grade tertiary institutions. In certain institutions at federal and state levels, your high scores in matriculation examinations may not guarantee you admissions to study certain professional courses such as Medical/Health Science, Law, Computer Science/Engineering, Architecture, Communications/Journalism, etc.
In our new Nigeria not many are noticing, only the wards of relations and family friends of our powerful people who most times perform poorly in matriculation examinations can gain admission to study lucrative courses, despite the strictness and surveillance of the Admissions and Matriculation Board. Some powerful Nigerians still have their way. This is without prejudice to some tertiary institutions that celebrate merit a great deal.
And here is the thing, there must be radical revival of the Civil Service at the federal and state levels. The Tinubu administration must lead the way to restructure and disrupt the civil service and ensure that the ‘power of resurrection’ comes from above to the Federal Civil Service. President Tinubu must note that the Federal Civil Service, which should set the tone for Meritocracy in the polity too is gone! There must be an intentional revival if the future of our great country means anything to the current leadership.
Here is the conclusion of the whole matter: Nigeria, a nation once bursting with promise and potential, has slowly but surely succumbed to the suffocating grip of mediocrity. The very fabric of our society, once woven with the threads of meritocracy, has been torn asunder, leaving in its wake a trail of despair, frustration, and disillusionment. The consequence of this malaise is a nation where competence is sacrificed at the altar of connection, and excellence is eclipsed by expediency.
In every sphere of Nigerian life, the cankerworm of mediocrity has eaten deep, leaving a gaping chasm between what we aspire to be and what we have become. Our universities, once bastions of academic excellence, now admit students based on factors other than merit. The notion that a student’s academic prowess is the primary criterion for admission has given way to a system where connections, bribery, and nepotism hold sway.
The effects of this systemic rot are far-reaching. Our universities churn out graduates who are ill-equipped to compete in the global marketplace. These graduates, many of whom have never been challenged to excel academically, are then unleashed on a society that demands innovation, creativity, and problem-solving skills. The result is a workforce that is woefully unprepared to drive the nation’s development.
The situation is no better in the job market. Merit, once the gold standard for hiring, has been relegated to the background. Jobs are now secured based on who you know, rather than what you know. This has created a culture of entitlement, where individuals feel that they deserve a job simply because of their connections, rather than their qualifications or experience.
The consequences of this approach are dire. Incompetence is rewarded, while competence is punished. The best and brightest are driven to despair, as they watch less qualified individuals secure jobs and promotions based on their connections. This has led to a brain drain, as many of Nigeria’s most talented individuals seek opportunities abroad, where merit is still valued.
But the impact of mediocrity goes beyond the individual. It has far-reaching consequences for the nation as a whole. When incompetence is rewarded, it creates a culture of complacency, where individuals feel that they can get away with subpar performance. This has led to a decline in productivity, as individuals are not challenged to excel.
Furthermore, the enthronement of mediocrity has led to a lack of accountability. When individuals are appointed to positions based on their connections, rather than their qualifications, they are not held accountable for their performance. This has created a culture of impunity, where individuals feel that they can get away with anything.
The consequences of celebrating mediocrity are evident in every sphere of Nigerian life. Our infrastructure is in shambles, our economy is struggling, and our education system is in crisis. The question is, how did we get here?
The answer lies in our willingness to sacrifice merit on the altar of expediency. We have created a system where connections and nepotism are valued more than competence and excellence. We have forgotten that the best way to build a strong nation is to reward merit, rather than mediocrity.
So, what is the way forward? The answer is simple: we must return to the principles of meritocracy. We must create a system where competence and excellence are rewarded, rather than connections and nepotism. We must hold individuals accountable for their performance, rather than their connections.
This will require a fundamental shift in our values and attitudes. We must recognise that merit is not a dirty word, but rather the key to building a strong and prosperous nation. We must create a culture where excellence is valued, and incompetence is not tolerated. The task ahead will not be easy. It will require courage, determination, and a commitment to excellence. But if we are to build a nation that is worthy of our potential, we must be willing to make the necessary sacrifices.
In conclusion, the death of merit and the enthronement of mediocrity in Nigeria is a tragedy of epic proportions. It has led to a decline in productivity, a lack of accountability, and a culture of impunity. But it is not too late to change course. We must return to the principles of meritocracy, and create a system where competence and excellence are rewarded. Only then can we build a nation that is worthy of our potential.
The power of meritocracy in a democracy has several accolades and attributes. Here are some of them:
-Promotes Competence: Meritocracy ensures that the most competent individuals hold positions of power, leading to better decision-making and governance.
-Encourages Fairness: By rewarding individuals based on their skills and achievements, meritocracy promotes fairness and equality of opportunity.
-Fosters Innovation: Meritocratic systems encourage innovation and creativity, as individuals are incentivised to develop new ideas and solutions to advance.
-Efficient Allocation of Resources: Meritocracy ensures that resources are allocated efficiently, as the most capable individuals are tasked with managing them.
-Accountability: Meritocratic systems promote accountability, as individuals are held responsible for their actions and decisions. As I once asked here, can we re-brand Nigeria where mediocrity is king?
– Oloja is former editor of The Guardian newspaper and his column, Inside Stuff, runs on the back page of the newspaper on Sundays. The column appears on News Point Nigeria newspaper on Mondays.