IF liberty means the continuous power of expansion in the human spirit, it is rarely present, save in a society of equals. Where there are rich and poor, educated and uneducated, we find always masters and servants- Laski 'The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) refer to the eight international development targets that member states of the United Nations agreed to achieve by 2015. They were products of the Millennium Declaration of the Summit of Heads of State and Governments at the United Nations in 2000. That Declaration affirmed the right of every individual to dignity, freedom, equality and a basic standard of living.The aim of the MDGs, in one word, is to encourage development by improving social and economic conditions in the world's poorest countries within a timeline of 15 years.The goals are as follows:Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; achieve universal primary education; promote gender equality and empower women; reduce child mortality rates; improve maternal health; combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases; ensure environmental sustainability and develop a global partnership for development.There is no gain saying the fact that Nigeria needs the MDGs more than any other country. As of 2000, when the world leaders adopted the United Nations Millennium Declaration, about 70 per cent of Nigerians lived below the poverty line on less than a dollar per day. Illiteracy hovered around 48 per cent, while women still took the back seat in the political and socio-economic affairs of the country. Child mortality and maternal mortality rates were very high, with HIV/AIDS, malaria and other preventable diseases taking their toll on the citizens. Deforestation and carbon emission continued insidiously. What is more, the debt burden threatened the nation like a sword of Damocles.As a responsible member of the United Nations and one in dire need of development, Nigeria signed on to the Millennium Declaration in 2000.However, she was hampered by insufficient funds until 2005 when it allocated funds saved through the debt relief granted it by the Paris Club. As could be gleaned from Goal 8, the template for the MDGs encourages the rich nations to assist the poor nations through debt relief, debt cancellation, among others.The pilot project took off in 2007 through the Office of the MDGs in the Presidency. Funds were released to the states, with the latter contributing their counterpart funds, all to be utilised under stringent conditions in order to ensure accountability. One regrets to note that despite the efforts of the Federal Government, Ogun State has not been able to get its due, because of a culture of impunity.In 2008, if one may cite an example, the state government paid its counterpart funds of about N820 million, while the Federal Government released about N820 million to the state for the implementation of the MDGs. Inexplicably, the state government threw caution to the wind and unilaterally withdrew N500 million from the fund. The central government was left with no option than to apply the penalty. And so, Ogun State, despite the decayed public infrastructure and poor performance in Human Development Index, was denied of the MDGs funds for 2009 and 2010.However, the coming on board of the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led government in May 2011, has opened a new chapter for the collaboration between the central government and Ogun State towards the attainment of the MDGs.Interestingly too, the scope of the MDGs has now been scaled up to include local governments areas (LGAs), and 117 local councils have been chosen for pilot study, out of which three are from Ogun State: Odeda LGA, Yewa North LGA and Ikenne LGA.According to the local government template, the Federal Government is to contribute N100 million to each of the 117 LGAs; the state will contribute N60 million, while each LGA is to pay N40 million. Of course, it goes without saying that this is a tall dream for local councils involved.In order to recover the lost ground, especially as 2015 is around the corner, Governor Amosun, in his characteristic belief in the rule of law, and working in concert with his Special Adviser on MDGs, Mrs Hafsat Abiola-Costello, sent 'The Joint State/Local Government Development Bill' to the House of Assembly, which would allow the state government to assist the LGAs in meeting the counterpart funds for the MDGs. The Bill had since been passed into law by the forward-looking Ogun State House of Assembly.What is more, the Senator Amosun-led government has paid its counterpart funds for the state MDGs - in fact, it is the first state to do so in Nigeria. It is also the first to pay its counterpart funds of N60 million to each of the three LGAs chosen for the pilot project in Ogun State. This, it is widely believed, is a demonstration of the passionate commitment of the governor to the welfare of his people. It is interesting to note that other states are now taking their cue from Ogun State. in the implementation of the new/ scale-up MDGs.Dr Ademuyiwa wrote in from Abeokuta.
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