As we make up our minds about who to vote for and how to vote in the 2019 general elections; As we reflect on the steps and actions that we must take in our collective interest, beyond the 2019 general elections, and towards 2023.
As we embark on the historic journey to Reclaim Our Humanity, And Retake Control over our collective Destiny from this ruinous Ruling Class and its failed and discredited establishment; And more importantly as we work collectively to Build the Coalition For 2023 [Cf2023] to Take Back Nigeria – Inch By Inch, And Rebuild Our Country – Brick By Brick; It is important that we reflect on the criteria for making our choice, and for voting in 2019; as well as for making our choice towards 2023.
If we must make progress, our choices must be based on issues that are central to our collective prosperity, and that are best placed to advance the cause of social justice and equitable and inclusive development, in the interest of all.
So far in this and previous elections, these issues are not being raised. Instead the dominant forces, and a majority of new entrants, to extent to which issues are raised at all, are engaged in polemics and rhetoric that are firmly within the realm and bounds of neo-liberal, free market, and privatisation development models.
The developmental state
Given where our nation and our people are at today, and given where we are coming from, Achieving sustainable, progressive, equitable and socially just Human And National Development, for an enhanced experience of human civilisation, requires that we urgently rethink the role of the state in development and in the development process.
This rethinking will require that we undertake a vast, dramatic, root and branch radical re-engineering and restructuring of the state, to transform it into a state that delivers effective, efficient, accessible and affordable Public Services; one that guarantees the human rights of citizens to basic [welfare] services and infrastructures; Converting the State into a Developmental State; that is a state that plays the pre-eminent and dominant role in leading the [Human and National] Development process.
Making this happen will require that Democratic Governance and Participatory Development processes and institutions will have to prioritise giving life to the following:
• Reinventing Public Services and Corporations is Possible;
• Reinventing Public Services and Corporations is Preferable;
• Using Public Finance in this Reinvention process is key, central, and pivotal;
• The Human Rights to Basic Services and infrastructures affirmed in several UN Declarations, as well as in Chapter Two of the 1999 CFRN [as amended] must be protected and fulfilled;
• Public Collaborations in the form of Public – Public Partnerships [PUBs] delivers the needed capacity; while competition [at the heart of privatisation and PPPs] does not.
• Commitment to serve Public interests, instead of giving up responsibility to privateers is central to equitable development, inclusive growth, and redistribution [equitable distribution] of wealth;
• Reinventing public services is critical to Democratic Governance;
• Developing a blueprint and Action Plan on the basis of these principles, and for the purpose of implementing the principles is decisive.
Key elements of democratic governance, control and management of the economy
• Ensuring Labour – and Management Cooperation – Participatory Management;
• Establishing Social Dialogue Processes and institutions;
• Establishing mechanisms for Participatory Budgeting;
• Enabling establishment of Popularly Elected Deliberative Bodies;
• Formation and institution of formal Democratic Community Self Government Institutions for inclusive community governance.
Some available public finance tools
There are a range of Public Finance tools that are already available, and which can be adopted and adapted. What is key is flexibility and capacity for innovation. Some of these include;
• Grants and concessionary Loans
• Floating and creation of Public [Municipal] Service Bonds
• Affordable and progressive Tariffs and Pricing, utilising Rising Block Tariff Systems; etc
• Progressive Taxation system that ensures that those who earn more pay more, those who make more profits pay more, and those who are vulnerable and poor are protected
Significantly, the UN DESA report of February 2016 concludes that “available evidence suggests that Public Private Partnerships [PPPs and other forms of privatisation] are more expensive than Public Sector alternatives form a Financial and Social Perspective.”
Conclusion:
Let us frame our conclusion with this quote from a presentation made to a conference of experts in August 2009 by the then Chief Economist of the African Development Bank Group [AfDB], Louis Kasekende, “In order to overcome the continent’s structural constraints and reduce its external dependence, it is necessary to rethink the role of the
state. The Market only works through incremental changes and small steps. However, developing countries need to stimulate investments by socialising risks, in order to achieve long-term structural transformation ……”
Our Movement, The Take Back Nigeria Movement [TBN] is in full agreement with this, and we are committed to the principles and mechanisms of a Building a Developmental State to lead the process of equitable, socially just and inclusive Human and National Development in our country, on our continent, and across the globe.
Our exhortation
We invite you all to make these principles the basis for your consideration of who to vote for in 2019; as well as the basis for holding elected leaders into account after the 2019 general elections; And more importantly the basis for Building the Independent, Mass Political and anti-establishment movement and Coalition for 2023 as we chart a collective pathway to our collective National Liberation and Social Emancipation. [This statement of principles and article of commitment to a developmental state is a further elaboration of our Who We Are, and What We Stand For Document].
Jaye Gaskia is the convener of Take Back Nigeria
