27th February, 2013
Recent revelations about the degradation and inexcusable neglect of the Nigerian Police College, Ikeja, Lagos, is, undeniably, a subset of the larger manifestation of leadership failure and misrule that has continued to assail the country’s developmental capacities. The rot in the college, like other paramilitary and military barracks across the country, is no less a veritable evidence that Nigeria lacks transformative leaders, as well as exposing the withering institutions of state.
Being conscious of the constitutional and social role of the media on public accountability and nation-building, Channels Television decided to bring the horrific condition which cadets of the college face, to public attention. The station had planned a colloquium, where some private sector players would brainstorm on how to intervene and rebuild the college – a colonial heritage – built over seven decades ago.
Although sordid images of dilapidated dormitories, leaky roofs, broken beds, open urinary and poor sanitary facilities, among others, propelled President Goodluck Jonathan to pay an impromptu visit to the place, nothing still has been done afterward. Rather than appreciate the television station’s corporate social responsibility project, a riled President Jonathan was said to have demanded explanations on why the station was allowed access to film the college.
To him, it was aimed at embarrassing his government, which he claimed was not responsibility for the parlous state of the training school. Eventhough the rot was not created by his administration, do we need to remind the President that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has been the government in power at the centre since 1999? Not only that. It has also during the period controlled both chambers of the federal parliament.
With this in mind, the president has inadvertently indicted his party for lacking the vision and ability to develop the country and sustain its institutions. If that was what the president meant, we totally agree with him. As against 700 students it was originally created to cater for, the college presently has 2,554, an indication that its facilities are overstretched.
The students are helplessly made to live in very sub-human conditions, which are similar to the days of slavery when captured Africans were chained and subjected to inhuman conditions in the dark alleys they were kept before they were exported abroad for excrutiating manual labour in farm plantations. Ironically, it is the same category of policemen and women that would eventually be churned out to keep the peace in the society. This provides an empirical understanding of the battered psyche of policemen and the crimes they are often accused of committing.
According to available statistics, N496 million was said to have been budgeted for the college in 2012, while N311 billion has been budgeted for the police in 2013 Appropriation Bill.
We urge the National Assembly and relevant agencies of government to commence a probe of previous funds allocated for the maintenance of the college. Rather than shifting blames, President Jonathan should realise that it takes a man of vision, mission and will bring about lead a change.
Any government worth its salt must see the media as partners in progress and leverage on the capacity of the corporate society for achieving its developmental goals. The suspicion of mischief and, in many instances, total abhorrence for the media, is the reason a government would see the media as fifth-columnists and in this instance, stifle that lofty attempt by Channels Television.
Institution-building is critical to the preservation of the state, good governance, public accountability and citizen participation and confidence in a government that is truly theirs. The Federal Government should stop hiding behind its wrinkled finger to begin urgent construction and rehabilitation of decrepit police and military barracks across the country. Government must ensure there is transparency in the management of funds allocated to police formations, reward system and eschew duplication of roles and wastage, which breed corruption in the force.
It must take reforms seriously, including remuneration, capacity-building and provide equipment for security agencies for effective performance at a period the nation is facing serious security challenges everywhere.