THESE are challenging times all Nigerians must cope with, both by the few in the business of governance and the many that are governed.According to announcements intimating us of government's intention, there is an approval already given that a new Identity Card project would soon be embarked upon to cover all Nigerians from age 18. The planned deregulation of the down stream of the petroleum industry better known as the removal of fuel subsidy is on the table; discussion on the desirability or otherwise of this 'fuel of business' has caused wide divisions, threatening the polity with dire consequences. And President Goodluck Jonathan's proposed single term tenure of seven years is poised to emerge as a constitutional amendment later in the year. The signals emanating from Federal Government indicate its solid commitment to the objective of these plans amongst others. Of these, only one, the single term tenure requires constitutional tinkering; the remaining two are largely within the domain of the Executive to handle as it pleases. But as a matter of commonsense and in accordance with the welt-worn aphorism that no man is an Island, the opinions of all of us in this country will be critical at the end of the day, to the emergence of any of these government plans and their eventual success.Take the issue of the National Identity Card project, for a start. Since the beginning of the current democratic dispensation in 1999, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMIC) under the Ministry of Internal Affairs has done far less than justice to this all-important project in spite of generous allocation of funds. The contract for Identity Card was first awarded by Obasanjo's administration in 2000. After a colossal waste of about N2.5 billion, the project was re-awarded in 2003, by the same administration, in spite of strident objection, including that of the National Assembly which twice rejected budgetary allocation for it, to SAGEM, a French company for N38 billion. Unfortunately, this bold move turned out to be a cesspool of scandal and sleaze. This led to the arraignment for corruption of former Internal Affairs Ministers Sunday Afolabi, now late, and Dr. Shata; former Labour Minister, Hussein Akwanga; former Enugu State Governor Okwesielize Nwodo.The usefulness of National Identity for planning purposes is not in doubt. What worries Nigerians is the mess the handlers have made of it in the past. In 2003, of the valid 42 million out of the 58 million registered Nigerians could not get their cards. What happened to the machines supplied by SAGEM for N38 billion to the National Civic Registration. Now, how come the country wants to throw another N30 billion into the project without a satisfactory explanation of the past failure' How can Nigerians be assured that the new project will not turn out to be a monumental source of financial scandal and waste' These times call for prudence that requires there must be value for money spent.The issue of the removal of fuel subsidy has generated a very robust debate, both by individuals and by institutions. The government has also taken the sensible steps of engaging several segments of the polity. That is how it should be in democratic setting and one hopes that the government is better informed now.The government's argument in favour of fuel subsidy removal is forceful and persuasive as it embodies a lot of common sense. Largely, the subsidy is allegedly benefiting a group of people labeled 'cartel', 'mafia' and such reprehensible names; public funds should not be so expended. It is believed that the beneficiaries are really growing fatter from the national patrimony at the expense of all of us. I belong to the group of those Nigerians that support the removal of fuel subsidy, but we need government to assist us with some information. Which are the companies given the contract to import the finished petroleum products' Who are the directors / promoters of these companies' Are these people Nigerians' From which refineries and in which countries do they import' We need to be fortified with these primary facts. We also want to believe that no cartel or mafia is powerful enough to intimidate or torpedo the federal government. Therefore, the government must not hesitate to name names, if it wants the critical segment of the polity to continue with its support. The plan to remove subsidy is a bold one; the government should now move a notch higher in boldness.The single term tenure of seven years has both been criticised and applauded across board. But the most potent drawback which critics have latched onto is that it is more tolerable to bear an inept governor or president for four years than for seven years. This argument is believable and logical. The argument constantly made to is how the length of tenure should now constitute a priority deserving attention in the face of the numerous challenges that can partly be addressed through constitutional tinkering. True Federalism, Immunity Clause, Local Government creation are among many other subjects crying for constitutional attention. In the opinion of not a few, the single term tenure is a luxury, very far from being a priority now.For sure, heavens will not fall but Nigerians should brace up for bumpy time ahead in the coming months.
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