Introduction
Nigeria’s democracy has been under threat as its leaders struggle for power and do not care for their citizens. Participation in military conflicts, the pursuit of personal gains, and the disregard for basic human needs make the current government highly inefficient. Further research shows the damage done by the mismanagement of the entire country. These findings reveal how these factors create an insecure, oppressive environment for Nigerians and how proper guidance and training can fix them.
Findings: Issues in the Nigerian Government
Corruption
All parts of the Nigerian government are affected by corruption. Politicians are using military forces to put their loyal people in charge regardless of their qualifications as long as they allow fiscal fraud to occur (Yagboyaju & Akinola, 2019). It enables them to conduct financial crimes without risking being revealed.
The former Nigerian president is also accused of participating in corruption. Despite showing efforts to prevent such crimes, he has been primarily persecuting his political opponents (Nwozor et al., 2020). By using the justice system as a means of power control, he is also involved in this crisis.
It is obvious that the government needs to change entirely, as it currently supports only itself. Citizens do see this behavior and take arms against their leaders to stop corruption or become a part of it (Obarisiagbon & Akintoye, 2019). Therefore, corruption worsens many aspects of people’s lives, preventing the country from developing.
Autocracy
Nigerian politicians continue to strive for more power for themselves through any available means. For example, governors are not ashamed to use military units to force people to vote for them (Abebiyi, 2021). They consider this behavior to be a form of protection. However, it is only a sign of tyranny and oppression, which makes people distrust the system.
Simultaneously, the Nigerian police forces are viewed negatively by the public due to their participation in crimes such as extortion (Obarisiagbon & Akintoye, 2019). They are perceived as hired mercenaries more than servants of the country. In order to achieve their objectives, politicians are utilizing the military to place their devoted supporters in positions of authority (Yagboyaju & Akinola, 2019). Their focus remains on creating an elite class of citizens for themselves and their families.
Ethical Leadership
Leaders of many Nigerian organizations are highly inefficient and fail to consider the needs of their followers. Employees in public services are irresponsible and unprofessional and do not follow the principles of ethical leadership (Ojogiwa, 2021). At the same time, Nigerians are excluded from affecting politics, and their pleas are ignored. At best, authority figures in the country consider themselves patrons for a select few (Ojogiwa, 2021). This approach furthers hostilities between people and the government, causing more armed insurrections to appear.
Nigerian citizens suffer from a lack of access to water, food, transportation, and healthcare (Amaechi, 2020). However, their leaders ignore all these issues and the discontent they create. They lack vision for their nation and do not think of the changes that may improve the community’s well-being (Yagboyaju & Akinola, 2019). The concepts of justice and equality must be taught to the heads of the government structures in Nigeria as soon as possible.
Solutions from Literature
Leadership Training
Leaders of the country do not understand the tasks ahead of them, clearly requiring additional training in management and administration. The educational sector is considered a vital part of the socioeconomic development process (Kamta et al., 2020). For Nigeria, this means that investments in colleges and universities can boost its economy significantly. Under a proper direction, new leaders can protect human rights better and implement policies that benefit citizens (Ibitoye, 2021). Management of the public sector is the primary target for this solution.
Diversity training can help politicians to understand how to find compromise without using force to resolve conflicts (Ibitoye, 2021. This direction can be achieved by expanding social sciences programs across Nigeria. In addition to training in management, people in charge of the country must understand ways of creating business opportunities for all (Zubairu, 2020). The development of the country is impossible without new employment positions for Nigerians.
Training in leadership styles can redirect people’s attention from autocracy to other, more efficient forms of management. Future Nigerian leaders must learn how to cooperate with their subordinates by sharing information with maximum transparency (Zubairu, 2020). Leadership education can also fix the negative image of authority. Therefore, law enforcement officers require training, as these government workers are currently being misused by politicians (Zubairu, 2020). Thus, modern approaches to ethical policing are vital to be added to the necessary training as well.
Foreign Interventions
The lack of education, political instabilities, and high local crime rates can be fixed with the help of other states. First, partnerships with foreign universities can teach Nigerian organizations how to train highly qualified professionals (Kamta et al., 2020). This way, Nigeria can produce a new generation of political leaders who know how to rule the country.
The United Nations also can guide policy measures that follow Nigeria’s constitution, as its development programs are shown to be effective in other African regions (Yagboyaju & Akinola, 2019). It is essential to understand that Nigeria’s independence is crucial, yet there are recommendations that it should follow. Its society can benefit from external guidance while new politicians are being trained.
There are also ways to establish proper leadership in the region through foreign assistance. A new foreign policy in Nigeria can allow its neighbors to support its attempts to stop gang violence and other illegal activities (Amao, 2019). The combined effort from South African countries can bring peace to this region. The barrier to this intervention is the fact that Nigeria perceives such help as a way for others to take advantage of its weaknesses (Amao, 2019). However, it is possible to avoid such a situation through a proper set of foreign policies negotiated within an alliance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the findings confirm that the Nigerian government must transform many of its public services. New evidence shows the exact issues that lead to instabilities within the country. Democratic principles are being ignored on purpose, as politicians use force and nepotism to create favorable conditions for their illegal activities.
It is possible to improve the situation by creating colleges and universities that adhere to modern standards of quality. Furthermore, the United Nations has a working plan for assisting African countries with their development. The state can also ask its neighbors to help with military conflicts. The hostilities in Nigeria affect other countries, making it essential to call for any help possible. Overall, there are many solutions that can alleviate the suffering of Nigerians, although the government needs to change to accept them.
References
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