ActionAid Nigeria has stressed the need for accountability in the country, saying lack of it lowers morale and responsible for poverty in Nigeria.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja yesterday as part of activities to mark the International Day for the eradication of Poverty, the director of Resource Mobilization and Innovation, ActionAid, Andrew Mamedu, said despite the enormous natural resources available to the country, many Nigerians are having a hard time living.
Mamedu explained how accountability in leadership can help pull many Nigerians above the poverty line.
“I think one of the good things we have in the country is the government being able to come up with policy programmes regularly.
“In some cases, the policies and programmes are not well formed. Most times, it is not because of lack of policies but the challenge of implementation. How are they implemented?
“A good example is the current social investment programme; the school feeding; cash transfers; trader money, all of those are good programmes. It got to the point where it became corrupt.”
He stressed that resolute steps can be taken to get our leadership right.
“At various levels, there are leaders that are demonstrating and showing clear evidence of work in some ways, but not totally to the level that we want them. So, leadership is very critical,” Mamedu said.
Mamedu said the nation deserves a radical leader, a benevolent dictator, somebody that will be able to scale Nigeria in the right direction.
“We need someone that does not have a sole personal interest. So, it’s not about personal interests, it is about the country’s interest and will have the will to execute policies or programmes, as it concerns the country,” Mamedu added.
