NATIONALISM

Nationalism can be defined as a strong feeling of national consciousness and love for one's country to handle its own affairs devoid of foreign control and domination. It can also be defined as a certain form of unity which grows out of historical experience. It is the sense of oneness that emerges through the act of trying to control a nation’s destiny and defending her interest against competing groups.

In other words, it is the strong awareness of belonging to a nation, which leads to the struggle against foreign rule and domination. It is the feeling of national consciousness by the people that they are members of a nation state and desire freedom from colonial rule.

Nationalism in the African context refers to a desire of African people to terminate all foreign rules and live under a government of their own choice so as to preserve their political, economic and social interest.

The hostility against colonial rule was due to the fact that it was hindrance in the struggle for the creation of nation state, hence nationalism was identified with struggle for independence. National consciousness was a gradual process i.e. was not over right phenomena.

Factors That Led to the Growth of Nationalism

 There are two (2) main factors which are:

1. The internal factors.
2. The external factors.

1. The Internal Factors:

1.     Emergence of many young elites: young elites with radical nationalistic movement such as Sam Nujoma (Namibia), Augustino Netto (Angola), Keneth Kaunda (Zambia), J.K Nyerere (Tanganyika), and Kwame Nkurumah (Ghana) Nnamdi Azikwe, H. O. Davies, Obafemi Awolowo, (Nigeria) etc. emerged. These Africans who were educated from colonial school and Missionaries schools contributed to the rise of Nationalism. They mobilised the masses for support during the struggle for independence.

2.     Formation of Political Parties: Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM), Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), National Council for Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), etc. were formed and they played leading roles in the growth of nationalism in Nigeria.

3.     Absent of Democracy: people had no democracy since colonial government gave no room for colonial subjects to elect their own leader. Example, the Legistrative council had dominated by colonial masters hence discontent among the Africans.

4.     The Influence of Christianity and Establishment of Schools: These made the nationalists realise that all men were actually created equal by God.

5.     Discriminatory Attitude of the Europeans to Nigerians: There was racial discrimination and limited opportunities for Nigerians in the Civil Service.

6.     Economic exploitation: These include intensive economic exploitation exercised in the colonies by the colonialist this ranged from forced labour, taxation, land alienation, bad working condition, low wages, low prices of cash crops, thus Africans had to fight for independence and remove all of these colonial injustices.

7.     The role of Independent African Church movement: These were the churches formed by Africans to challenge European church leaders. The movement was not merely, but also addresses economic, social and political discontent such as land alienation, forced labour, taxation, involvement of Africans in European wars and colonial discriminatory policies.

8.     Development of communication system by 1945: During this period there was a little development of communication system such as Roads, Railways, Newspaper, radios etc. These in turn were used by Africans leaders to awaken nationalism to the masses. Also they facilitated the nationalists to travel from one side/point of a country to another in order to arise political consciousness to the people.

9.     Growth of trade unions: The trade unions were formed by workers as a reaction to their exploitation and oppression under colonialism. The trade unions pressed for their demand through strike also aided the growth of nationalism in Nigeria. There was a general strike in 1945 and this forced the colonial masters to accede to the demands of the striking work force.

10. Social Segregation: Socially, the major social discontent were discrimination, where Africans masses were racially discriminated in all forms of life, in urban areas there were discrimination in education, health, sports and in many other field.

2. The External Factors:

1.     Impact of the Second World War: The war exposed the myth surrounding the whites’ supremacy. The whites were in no way superior to the blacks.

2.     Activities of British Labour Party: The labour party in Britain opposing the conservative parties’ policy on colonialization influenced the growth of nationalism in Nigeria.

3.     Activities of the Pan-African Leaders/Organisation: The activities of the prominent individuals and organisations such as some black American leaders and other blacks in diaspora like Dubois and George Padmore, as well as organisations like West African Students Union (WASTU), Negro World Movement, etc. gave inspiration to Nigerian nationalists.

4.     Economic Depression: The effects of the Second World War included the world’s economic depression and this aided the nationalists in their struggle for political independence.

5.     1) The Effect of the Second World War (WWII): The war led to the intensification of exploitation due to the colonial economic policies introduced in the colonies. This was mainly in agriculture and mining sectors faced harsh treatment such as forced labour and land alienation which led to the wide spread discontent from the Africa.

Also during the WWII Africans from different areas were recruited to fight against the German and the colonialist. They were told that they are fighting for human dignity, justice, equality and right for all people to self-determination. They were also promised that at the end of the war the colonialist will improve the colonial social services and they will be employed and given good salaries. However these promises were not fulfilled hence it in increased frustrations among the Africans where by the some of them took up arms to fight against the whites.

6.     The role played by UNO. UNO was formed after the WWII (1945), and one of the characters of UNO was the “Colonization violated human rights”. Therefore its role was to support decolonization. Its purpose was to maintain international security and peace to different nations. Due to all these objective UNO was against all forms of oppression and exploitation exercised by the colonialists in Africa.

7.     The return of Ex-Service men: the  Ex-Service men who fought along side the white men in the second world war also encouraged nationalist activities. Having fought alongside the white men the concept of white man’s superiority was deflated.

8.     Atlantic Charter: The 1941 Atlantic Charter emphasized the right to self-determination by all the peoples of the world

9.     Indian’s Independence: ) Independence of India in 1947 inspired West African Nationalists in the struggle to stamp out colonialism

 

 

 

 

 

RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD

 

Responsible Parenthood is the act or process of effective discharge of duties and obligations of upbringing, rearing of children and wards by parents and guardian. It can also be seen as the “will” and ability of parents to respect and do the needs and aspirations of the family and children. It is the ability of a parent to detect the need, happiness and desire of the children and helping them to become responsible and reasonable children. In other words, it is the tasks on parents to ensure the proper upbringing of their children.

Types or Patterns of responsible parenthood

1.       Authoritative Parenting Style: This is the most desirable parenting style. It allows children to express themselves, while parents still retain authority and control. Authoritative parents have high expectations of their children, but they allow freedom of expression. This type of parents establish authority without the intention of creating fear in the minds of their children, but to help them become useful to themselves and the society.

2.       Authoritarian Parenting Style: Unlike Authoritative Parenting Style, Authoritarian Parents are strict and very demanding: the feeling, opinion of the child doesn't matter when decisions concerning him/her are to be made. Children under authoritarian parenting style are expected to follow rules without questioning, even if they are not cool with the rules. Authoritarian parenting style can be destructive to the children.

3.       Carefree Parenting Style: This is considered to be the least desirable parenting style - tending towards neglect. There is no form of any attachment or affectionate practices between the children and the parents. Perhaps because of busy schedule and work demand, carefree parents rarely stay at home or have time for their children. Carefree Parenting Style is strongly discouraged, and can have destructive effects on the children.

4.       Permissive Parenting Style: Under Permissive Parenting Style, few rules are sometimes set for the children, and the rules are inconsistent when they do exist. Permissive parents are lenient and allow considerable self-regulation. Usually, permissive parenting results from parents who try to compensate for what they themselves lacked as children. Perhaps they were raised by parents who were authoritarian

Roles of Responsible Parents

a.      Providing for the Household: it the responsibility of the parents to provide shelter, food, cloth, medical care, spiritual care, education and social needs for their family.

b.     Caring: Caring is been kind, helpful and showing that you care about other people. So parents should look after and care for their household in providing what their children needs for their health and protections.

c.       Education: every child has the right to be educated. It is therefore the responsibility of parents to provide quality and sustainable education for their children. Education is power, and giving a child a quality education is the greatest gift every parent can give to their children.

d.      Good Home Training: this involve character molding, attitudinal shaping and inculcation  of moral ethical and societal value to the children, home/family as the agent of socialization has to inculcate love, respect, friendliness, hospitality as well as national ethnic of discipline to the children.

e.       Building Positive Concept in Children: It is the role or duty of responsible parents to build self-esteem in their children. Parents should be able to help the children to manage stress, frustration and feel confidence in their future life. If a child is been constantly judge, criticized and blame, the child can grows up and build a negative self-concept.

f.       Teach them proper value: Parents needs to teach their children how to discern rights from wrong. Some parents believe that when children gets older, they will be able to decide for themselves what value to accepts. But this is wrong. Just as young bodies needs proper nurishments to grow up strong and healthy, so young mind and hearts needs instructions.

g.     Love:Our parents should provide us with love throughout our lives, and also teach us to love others. In many ways, our parents can become the model for how we give love in our later lives. It is so important for children to experience a loving relationship from the earliest years of their life, right through to adulthood so that when they become adults they are capable of loving others and receiving love as well.

h.     Safety:Parents ought to ensure that the home is a place of safety for their children. Parenting is important because it shields children from the dangers of the world. Safety and stability are very important for children: having enough to eat, staying warm in the winter, being accompanied by an adult wherever we go and so on are other aspects of staying safe as a child.

i.       Citizenship: Parents can help to form children to be good citizens by teaching them civic virtues such as unselfishness, neatness, truthfulness and willingness to help others. They can also teach children practical things about being a citizen, such as teaching them how to get around the neighborhood and telling them whom to call in the event of an emergency.

Qualities Responsible Parents

1. Be Available And Let Your Children Know: This availability also need to convey to the children. Children need to know that whenever they need to bring something or case to their parents, they will be there and they will not be distracted by work issues.

2. Actively Stick Out Your Children In Conservation: Since parents are available for talk with thier children, at any time, it does not mean that children will always make first move. Parents should be the one to make first movement, this is one of the qualities of a responsible parents, as the truly caring parents for that is part of their responsibility such as asking them how their night went.

3. Equip Yourself With Knowledge And Innovation About Your Children Environment Away From School: Parents have to know about their children and their wards even outside school and their activities. They have to know what things their children are doing. In knowing these things, parents will be able to discuss subjects with them.

4. Be Active Listeners: Four important fact of effective listeners are:

       i.            Making an eye contact

     ii.            Watching body language

  iii.            Being Heard And

   iv.            Waiting for the child to finish talking before saying anything.

5. Respecting The Child’s Feeling: Some parents have an attitude of talking about their children, especially their unpleasant habits, in front of others. Avoid putting a child down like this because it can be a blow to his/her self esteem. Parents with two or more children should also give attention and praises equally to all children and acknowledge their uniqueness.

Importance of Responsible Parenthood

1. Responsible Citizens: The greatest danger associated with irresponsible parenthood is the likelihood of producing a totally disorganised family, and by extension, irresponsible citizen . But responsible parents try to train their children properly in schools. They know the relevant of teaching them a trade or sending them for apprenticeship to acquire skills. This will in turn, create a defined future for the children as the children will not en up as touts, armed robbers, prostitutes etc. But responsible citizens. Those who attained to adulthood will marry because they can handle marital challenges.

2. Reduction In Crime: An educated child is prepared for a job and would subsequently got job. A skilled child in a trade or any kind of job is self-employed, Such children would hardly resort to crime like kidnapping, prostitution, tourism etc. By so doing crime is drastically reduced in the society.

3. Harmonious Co-existence in Home: There is a saying that says “Children are parents of children”. The extent to which children are taken care determine the degree of harmony that will exist in their home when they take up their own homes. Every responsible parent has a duty to sustain and respect his/her matrimonial views by ensuring that his/her marriage does not breakdown.

4. Disciplined Society: Responsible parents produce disciplined society. No one can live a victorious life without discipline. It takes discipline to rise up early in the morning to pray, prepare and go to school, work/office to overcome some temptation or attraction to crime e.t.c. Discipline helps individuals not to waste ones time, talent and resources but to channel them to the actualization of a goal.

5. Obedient Students, Youths and Staff: Responsible parenthood ensure obedient student, youths and staff. Anybody who had good home training will certainly be obedient to constituted authorities. If a student, he/she will respect his teachers and obeys the rules and regulations of his parents. If staff, he/she, obeys the ethic of his office or profession, such obedience guarantees peace and harmony among students and staff also nation at large.

PUBLIC SERVICE

Public service can be defined as a service which is provided by the government or an authorized body for the benefit of all the people in a particular society or community.

Public service is also a body of government employees entrusted with the administration of the country, and mandated to carry out the policy of the government.

In other words, it is a body or department of the executive arm of government responsible for the implementation of policies and programmes of the government.

Public service is also referred to civil service, and people who work to provide the service are called civil servants or public servants. 

Features of the Public Service

1. Permanency: The civil service is a permanent government establishment and employees enjoy security of tenure. The civil service remains intact while government changes periodically.

2. Neutrality: Civil servants are required to be politically neutral so that they can serve faithfully, any government in power, no matter the controlling party. The Law requires them to resign their appointment where they are interested in partisan politics.

3. Impartiality: This implies that civil servants should discharge their official duties fairly to all the people they are serving, without religious, class, gender, ethnic or any other sectional biases.

4. Anonymity: Civil servants may neither disclose government official secretarial nor speak to the press on government matters, except they are authorised by the minister supervising the ministry. They cannot be held responsible for their official actions. The minister and director-general are politically accountable for the success or failure of their ministry.

5. Expertise: The civil service consists of highly qualified and professionally experienced experts in various fields. The formulation and implementation of government policies and programmes depend largely on these specialists, while political office holders may not themselves be specialists in the areas they supervise.

6. Bureaucracy: The civil service is characterised by very strict adherence to established rules and regulations; this sometimes causes delays in the implementation of government policies and programmes.

7. Merit System: Recruitment and promotion in the civil service is often based on merit. Only qualified and competent candidates are recruited by the civil service commission. Promotion is also carried out in accordance with the established rules and regulations.

Functions of the Public Service

1. Formulation of Policies: The senior administrative and technical civil servants help to formulate the policies and programmes of the government. These are presented to the ministers and commissioners for consideration and final decisions.

2. Drafting of Bills: Experts in the civil service, especially lawyers, assist the government in the drafting of bills which eventually become laws.

3. Advice to the ministers/commissioners: The top civil servants act as advisers to the ministers and commissioners in charge of their ministries. Their relevant expertise and experience afford them the opportunity of providing dependable guide and information on complex government policies and programmes. They also help the political appointees to furnish the legislature with relevant information requested on their ministry.

4. Implementation of government policies: The top civil servants coordinate and supervise their subordinates to ensure the smooth execution of the policies and programmes of government. This ensures the provision of amenities to improve the health, education, social and general life of their people.

5. Preparation of annual estimates and budgets: The civil servants draft and prepare the annual budget and estimates of government ministries, departments and corporations.

6. Keeping government records and property: Civil servants gather and supply very useful information on which government policies and programmes are based. They keep and preserve government property.

7. Collection of revenue: The civil service assists the government to generate funds through the collection of taxes paid by citizens and corporate organizations, fines from the courts and duties paid by exporters and importers. This revenue enables the government to achieve its goals and objectives.

8. Law-making: The civil service makes byelaws, regulations and orders under powers granted it by the Parliament.

9. Quasi-judicial functions: The civil service performs some quasi-judicial functions such as the arrest and prosecution of smugglers (by custom officials). Public health and rent control officers often inspect residential and commercial houses to ascertain their level of cleanliness and curb exorbitant rent demanded by landlords.

10. Public Enlightenment: The civil service helps to explain government policies to the members of the public. They carry out public enlightenment especially through the mass media to enable the people to appreciate government policies and programmes, and problems facing the government.

Reasons for Short Comings in Nigerian Public Services

1.     Lack of expertise and poor capacity building: The civil service in Nigeria is suffering from inadequate qualified personnel, due to the mass movement of competent and experienced professionals who move to the private sector or go abroad where there is better remuneration.

2.     Alienation from the public and they do not have good understanding of what people want.

3.     Inefficient incentive systems that do not appreciate upright and outstanding civil servants but reward the corrupt and the incompetent.

4.     Outdated rules and procedures that restrict the civil servant from performing successfully.

5.     Lack of performance culture and focus on outputs and outcomes and inappropriate performance appraisal.

6.     Lack of adequate transparency and accountability procedures. There is also no safety for whistle blowers.

7.     Political interference: The intervention of the government in the day-to-day administration of the civil service does not give the civil servants the necessary freedom to carry out government policies effectively. This is especially because successive governments change head of departments as well as policies and programmes at will.

8.     Negative attitude exhibited by public servants: Most civil servants regard their job as government work that does not require seriousness or major attention. Civil servants are known to display poor attitude to work due to inadequate salaries, poor working conditions and absence of job security.

9.     Political instability: Continuous change of government brings along a change of political appointees like ministers, commissioners and career top civil servants such as the head of service and sometimes the directors-general. These usually come up with their own policies and programmes disrupting those formerly being implemented in the civil service.

10. Tribalism and favouritism: Sometimes, the unqualified person is appointed or promoted to a position he cannot perform well, while the qualified person is passed over due to favoritism in the civil service.

11. Waste of manpower and resources: Nigerian Public Service is known to employ more staff than is needed, leading to redundancy and wastage.

12. Inadequate training facilities: The government needs to provide more training facilities to the staff so that they can improve in carrying out their duties and functions.

13. Corruption: Bribery and corruption has eaten deep into some of the public servants. Many civil servants demand monetary and other gratifications before carrying out their duties to the citizens.

Ways of Improving Public Service.

1.     Refresher of courses and training programmes : The introduction of fresher courses and training programmes home and abroad for public servants on the various skills they need to improve their jobs and Nigeria.

2.     Teaching political education in schools : The introduction of political education into the school curriculum like the learning of civic education, government, diplomacy and other political thoughts to all levels of education.

3.     Use of code of conduct bureau and public complaints commission : Government should establish some disciplinary codes of conduct which will watch the affairs of public servants.

4.      Participatory budgeting: Participatory Budgeting project encourages accountability  by actively reminding local authorities of their commitments while ensuring that citizens are getting services they deserve.

5.     Transforming relationship between citizens and public services:  this will help to provide efficiency, equity and transparency of services by reducing the burden of physical visits to separate agencies, providing ready access to information, diminishing the discretion of officials, curtailing leakages and corruption in services delivery.”

6.     Providing feedback : there should be a mechanism that allows citizens to provide feedback to government.  An  open conversations with individuals or citizens of the country to note their challenges in their daily lives.

Assignment :3

The public service is a body or department of the executive arm of government responsible for the implementation of its policies and programmes of the government. However, their activities are full of irregularities in recent time. Give ten (10)  reasons why this is so