State Sanitation Exercise And Federal Roads

Nigeria is a federation; there is no doubt about that. And Nigeria is a democratic state which practices presidential system of government. That also is a given reality. There are some responsibilities shouldered by the various state governments to support the policies and vision of the Nigerian state. The Federal Government can act in her exclusive responsibility without seeking the opinion of the various state governments.

But in a civilised world, most of the laws of the states are enacted for the betterment of the populace. In Nigeria, anybody in power can decide to ask Power Holding Company of Nigeria to stop generating power or energy and his barbaric decision will stand.

Monthly environmental sanitation is not a new exercise in Nigeria. It has been there right from the military era to this present dispensation. To some extent, this exercise is helping to keep our environment clean. Our attitude in terms of keeping our environment clean is very poor. And this is a strategy some state governments use to keep the environment clean,  at least, for a short period of time. Many states have made the exercise compulsory, and it is enjoying the massive support of the people. It is not a new exercise introduced in our nation. The states where one-day monthly environmental sanitation exercise take are not complaining about the existence of such exercise, because it is also a time for the people to come together to know what is happening in their vicinity.

There is nothing autocratic about the exercise or the law establishing it in the states In fact, it is not a Persian Law. When there is Federal Government’s engagement, the states always postpone the exercise to a later date. And the cancellation is also announced for the public to take note.

It is appalling to hear that a member of the Federal House of Representatives, who was delayed on one of the federal roads in Markudi as a result of the monthly sanitation was angry, and therefore, took the matter to the floor of the House for debate. It was reported that the lawmakers debated the issues, and a law was passed that during the monthly exercise, federal roads in the states are not included. What a shame? One wonders the kind of legislators we have in Nigeria.

This exercise is mainly on Saturdays. There are millions of issues begging the attention of federal law-makers. They have not taken proactive and pragmatic approach to solve them. Can you imagine the rational behind law making in Nigeria? There are things we as Nigerians do not want to hear. What about the pot holes on our federal roads that delay commuters for seven to nine hours? The same Federal Government has asked the states to rehabilitate the bad federal roads in their areas. I wonder the type of laws they are making for the teeming population of Nigeria!

If one person who claims to be a demigod could hold the House of Representatives to ransom to pass such obnoxious decision against the wish and will of Nigerians, what do we think is hard for the lawmakers to do? Nothing.

This must come to mind: Are the Federal House of Representatives members residents of Abuja only? What about their constituencies in their various states? This is only a ploy to cause disaffection between state governments and some Federal Government functionaries, who may claim ignorant of the importance of the monthly sanitation exercise in the country. After all, federal roads link one state to another. And these roads pass through major towns and cities. It is time we begin to think right as Nigerians. No matter what, one or two hours delay of a federal lawmaker to an event as a result of state monthly sanitation exercise is a little sacrifice he should make as a Nigerian. It is not a do or die affair. Our position should not make us power drunk.

The monthly environmental sanitation exercise has so many benefits to Nigerians. And this can not be truncated by the selfish interest of one man. As Nigerians, therefore, there is need to keep our environment clean. They say, cleanliness is next to Godliness. In the states, there are people whose houses share boundaries with federal roads. That decision by the House of Representatives about federal roads and states’ sanitation exercise is barbaric and unwarranted in this time of purposeful development. Thus, the lawmakers should direct their energy and time in enacting laws that impact positively on Nigerians. Keep Nigeria clean. Do the right thing.

Ogwuonuonu resides in Port Harcourt.

Frank Ogwuonuonu