There is a clear difference between these two concepts, even thus the look same: When we say ‘Public Administration’ in the realms of democracy its connotes a situation where men in authority do things according laid down rules and regulations based on the wishes and aspiration of “majority” of the people. But when we say ‘Administration of the Public’, it connote a situation whereby government in a democratic setting imposes what it felt ought to be on the people, with necessarily and critically examining the socio-economic implications of such acts on the ‘Majority’ on the people. It is very unfortunate we are witnessing the later in Kogi state.
When Dr. Akwu said Governor Yahaya Bello’s administration is confused, bereft of ideas, people thought it was just a mere act of criticism, but day in and out it is becoming clearer that Yahaya Bello and his bunch of travelers are not only confused, bereft of ideas but also entangled in a web of visionlessness and missionlessness.
The confused and vision less ness state of mind of this administration is further portrayed with the purchase of 200 vehicles for the police to fight crime in the state. I am not against such as bazaar for the security agencies, but simple logic and common sense political arithmetic would have told the administration that the increase in crime rate in the state is not because of the inadequate policemen or security agencies nor their operational facilities, but it is purely as a result of an artificial alteration in the human-socioeconomic condition of the people created by this administration, which has led to the removal of the ozone layer separating the people from the harsh consequences of poverty, hunger and diseases. In fact, the administration has created an umbilical cord between poverty, hunger, diseases and the people of the state.
From Ankpa to Okene, Ajaokuta to Lokoja, Dekina to Idah, Olamaboro to Adavi, the story is the same; hunger and poverty everywhere. How do expect a state that has not paid workers for almost six months, technically retrench some in the guess of fishing out ghost workers, and no any form of social welfare initiative to the people to have a lower crime rate?.
What pains me most is that the peoples’ resources become the primary victim of this confused administration whenever its confused acts becomes viral in the state polity. Just imagine if the money for the purchase of 200 cars for the police is been channeled into provision of functional social welfare packages in the state with the sole aim of tackling the menace of poverty and hunger in the state, if your guess is as good as mine, there will be reduction in the poverty rate and hence a vital, functional and progressive reduction in crime rate in the state.
Simple. To curb increasing crime rate in the state the administration should simply:
-Pay workers salary promptly in full not in percentages
– Create micro -scale business opportunity for the masses in the state especially the women and the youths
-Engage in as a matter of fact and urgency, functional social welfare, schemes/policy/plan or programmers aimed at alleviating poverty and hunger in the state
Crime does not exist or occur in a vacuum, it is caused by humans who are also the direct victims of the crime, improvement in their living conditions is the only way to alleviating or eradicating the menace, i.e massive investments in human socio-economic development, crime and poverty are 5 and 6 in the realm of human development, eradicate poverty and crime will be a thing of the past.
Just as my slogan remains first thing first approach to governance is the best developmental model for every sensible and mission full government, especially in Africa in the 21st century.
– Enemama Sam Akubor
