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Nobody is going to develop Nigeria for us ... Afemikhe

The interest of most people in the present day Nigeria bothers on how the country could come out of her socio - economic problems, just as Samuel Oneshioagbe Afemikhe, in his interview with Enam Obiosio, expresses.

Excerpts:

Myself

My name is Samuel Oneshioagbe Afemikhe. I am from Okpella, Edo State. I am a Chartered Accountant. I have a Masters degree in Finance and Investment, from Exeter University and have been in professional accounting practice for almost 20 years and, have in the process, done a lot of value for money reviews and written books on the subject.

Decision to practice in Nigeria

In our time it was every foreign-trained student’s dream to come home and join in the nation- building effort. Then, we all looked forward to having our various qualifications and coming home to contribute our quota. I think it is even more relevant today that Nigerians, wherever they are, should come back and help to develop the country and support the government’s growth effort. What propelled us to come back 20 years ago is what I think must be on the minds of every body, who is outside, to come and contribute his or her own quota. Nobody is going to develop Nigeria for us if we don’t roll up our sleeves and work hard to make Nigeria a better nation for all of us and our children and children yet unborn.

Interest in writing

I have written a book, The Pursuit of Value for Money which was presented to the public on February 27, 2003. We are preparing now to present another book to the public, Budget Implementation and Value for Money - The Due Process Experience.

Basically, what propels one to write is to ensure that whatever knowledge or experience one has acquired, is put down in writing for the benefit of others because knowledge is useless if it is not applied and disseminated for people to learn from and put to use. In any situation, there must be lessons to learn and you put those lessons down for the benefit of people. And in our own case, we have been particularly fortunate to pioneer value for money reviews in Nigeria, which is very relevant to corporate governance and national development, and one feels duty bound to document all these things for the benefit of those in government and those in educational institutions that should learn and apply these ideas and ideals in the book.

The thrust of first book

The first book, The Pursuit of Value for Money, basically explained the three parameters for the pursuit of value for money, which is economy, efficiency and effectiveness. And it explains the specific techniques that individuals, companies and governments should apply in the pursuit of the principles of economy, effectiveness and efficiency. It is purely a normative work, which is useful to individuals, companies and government.

Book sales

My first book was done to endure and to sustain itself as it will be useful to managers of resources. True to that today, the book is doing very well. People in government are not only buying the book to understand the parameters of value for money, resource managers in all sectors, including banks, manufacturing, marketing, and even professionals in practice like in accounting, law and architecture, among others are buying the book. And, of course, we have a students’ edition, which is also doing very well among students. Some schools have even adopted the topic as a course and they are using the book as a course material. The book is doing quite well.

Early impression of Nigeria

Maybe we should put things in perspective. I left this country in 1973, and came back 1980. It was a very brief stay overseas, where I studied, and became a Chartered Accountant, and got my Masters. Before I traveled out of Nigeria, the country was buoyant, the income per capital was relatively high, roads were good, and schools were good as they turned out students, who were amongst the best in the world.

In our time for instance, we were given free food both at primary and secondary school. We were given free treatment in hospitals, electricity supply was rarely interrupted, qualifications from our universities were well respected internationally, infact, Nigerians were recognized for hard work and integrity. But now, things have deteriorated in all aspects of our life. Income per head has fallen very low, health services are bad, one travels and sees the bad state of roads, it is pathetic. The NEEDS document attests to how bad things have become. The task to turn things around is a very important one. It’s a serious task and we really need to roll up our sleeves and start to get things right, like the government has set out in its various reform programmes if the country is to regain its lost glory.

The problem of Nigeria

I have been here since the 1980s and have had my practice since 1986, so, we can say almost 15 years or there about. It is not difficult to see where our problem lies. I think what has happened so far can be reduced to three basic things— that there is so much corruption; we have not allowed the parameters of punishment and reward to prevail. We reward what should be punished and we punish what should be rewarded.

And we have not been able to guard the national treasury, we have allowed it to be looted. We have people, who have put their personal well being first— enriching themselves in comparism to developing the nation. We need to address extensively the issue of corruption; punishing what needs to be punished and rewarding what needs to be rewarded, and then guard the national treasury like the due process mechanism is doing now. If we are successful at it and make it endure, things will definitely change. In fact, the change has begun.

Insight into the book

Starting with the Pursuit of Value for Money which was a normative, set of techniques, we find out that a lot of work is being done by the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit in the pursuit of value for money in the application of government resources. What happened hitherto was that the treasury gates were opened, and contracts were being awarded to those who hadn’t the competency to execute them. Contracts were not monitored for efficient and effective execution and were usually abandoned. But now, with due process, government has put in place a very good system to ensure that budgets as passed are implemented efficiently by awarding contracts not only to those, who are qualified to execute them, but that such contracts are diligently monitored for efficient completion. And if this continues, you will find out that only those who qualify to draw from the national treasury will do so, which by extension means that reward will only be given to people who have performed well and not those that have stolen money. If the due process mechanism is sustained, people will begin to imbibe a sense of honesty, integrity, hard work and transparency.

Book availability

Well, for instance, we are planning to present Budget Implementation and Value for Money: The Due Process Experience to the public at Nicon Hilton, Abuja, on Thursday, December 15, because it is mainly a public sector book. We are also trying to ensure that we invite government functionaries at the Federal, State and Local Government levels to the public presentation because the due process thing is only now a Federal Government affair. It will not work effectively if other tiers of government do not buy into it.

Cultural interest

That’s very interesting, if you read my first book, I talked about the 80-20 rule. Eighty percent (80%) of result comes from 20percent of the input and it is something that cuts two ways. One, it shows that 80 percent of inputs are useless or generate very weak results. It also shows, on the other hand, that if you are able to apply 80 percent more positively you can multiply your performance or results. I believe that cultural groups and meetings are good, but one has to find a balance in a way that you don’t allow those things that do not contribute positive results to waste your time. One is not saying that one should not contribute. Yes, I attend village meetings, cultural gatherings, but I make sure that I belong to the ones to which I am able to add value and could also contribute value to my life. This creates time for me to do other things.

Nigeria in the nearest future

That is very interesting, it is my sincere belief that if as a people we consistently follow the due process practice, Nigeria will grow to become one of the very rich countries of the world because we are bountifully endowed with human and natural resources that have hitherto been squandered by corrupt practices, and attitudes, which created a lot of waste.

If we start to do the right things and do things right, the sky is the limit for us. Doing things right is efficiency and doing the right thing is effectiveness and achieving objectives. These are the key things in the book. Therefore, if every Naira that is budgeted for a project is spent on the project, then you will find that our schools will improve, our hospitals will be better, and our roads will be good. In this wise, it will take a very short period for Nigeria to be turned around.




	Nobody is going to develop Nigeria for us Nobody is going to develop Nigeria for us ... Afemikhe The interest of most people in the present day Nigeria bothers on how the country could come out of her socio - economic problems, just as Samuel Oneshioagbe Afemikhe, in his interview with Enam Obiosio, expresses. Excerpts: Myself My name is Samuel Oneshioagbe Afemikhe. I am from Okpella, Edo State. I am a Chartered Accountant. I have a Masters degree in Finance and Investment, from Exeter University and have been in professional accounting practice for almost 20 years and, have in the process, done a lot of value for money reviews and written books on the subject. Decision to practice in Nigeria In our time it was every foreign-trained student’s dream to come home and join in the nation- building effort. Then, we all looked forward to having our various qualifications and coming home to contribute our quota. I think it is even more relevant today that Nigerians, wherever they are, should come back and help to develop the country and support the government’s growth effort. What propelled us to come back 20 years ago is what I think must be on the minds of every body, who is outside, to come and contribute his or her own quota. Nobody is going to develop Nigeria for us if we don’t roll up our sleeves and work hard to make Nigeria a better nation for all of us and our children and children yet unborn. Interest in writing I have written a book, The Pursuit of Value for Money which was presented to the public on February 27, 2003. We are preparing now to present another book to the public, Budget Implementation and Value for Money - The Due Process Experience. Basically, what propels one to write is to ensure that whatever knowledge or experience one has acquired, is put down in writing for the benefit of others because knowledge is useless if it is not applied and disseminated for people to learn from and put to use. In any situation, there must be lessons to learn and you put those lessons down for the benefit of people. And in our own case, we have been particularly fortunate to pioneer value for money reviews in Nigeria, which is very relevant to corporate governance and national development, and one feels duty bound to document all these things for the benefit of those in government and those in educational institutions that should learn and apply these ideas and ideals in the book. The thrust of first book The first book, The Pursuit of Value for Money, basically explained the three parameters for the pursuit of value for money, which is economy, efficiency and effectiveness. And it explains the specific techniques that individuals, companies and governments should apply in the pursuit of the principles of economy, effectiveness and efficiency. It is purely a normative work, which is useful to individuals, companies and government. Book sales My first book was done to endure and to sustain itself as it will be useful to managers of resources. True to that today, the book is doing very well. People in government are not only buying the book to understand the parameters of value for money, resource managers in all sectors, including banks, manufacturing, marketing, and even professionals in practice like in accounting, law and architecture, among others are buying the book. And, of course, we have a students’ edition, which is also doing very well among students. Some schools have even adopted the topic as a course and they are using the book as a course material. The book is doing quite well. Early impression of Nigeria Maybe we should put things in perspective. I left this country in 1973, and came back 1980. It was a very brief stay overseas, where I studied, and became a Chartered Accountant, and got my Masters. Before I traveled out of Nigeria, the country was buoyant, the income per capital was relatively high, roads were good, and schools were good as they turned out students, who were amongst the best in the world. In our time for instance, we were given free food both at primary and secondary school. We were given free treatment in hospitals, electricity supply was rarely interrupted, qualifications from our universities were well respected internationally, infact, Nigerians were recognized for hard work and integrity. But now, things have deteriorated in all aspects of our life. Income per head has fallen very low, health services are bad, one travels and sees the bad state of roads, it is pathetic. The NEEDS document attests to how bad things have become. The task to turn things around is a very important one. It’s a serious task and we really need to roll up our sleeves and start to get things right, like the government has set out in its various reform programmes if the country is to regain its lost glory. The problem of Nigeria I have been here since the 1980s and have had my practice since 1986, so, we can say almost 15 years or there about. It is not difficult to see where our problem lies. I think what has happened so far can be reduced to three basic things— that there is so much corruption; we have not allowed the parameters of punishment and reward to prevail. We reward what should be punished and we punish what should be rewarded. And we have not been able to guard the national treasury, we have allowed it to be looted. We have people, who have put their personal well being first— enriching themselves in comparism to developing the nation. We need to address extensively the issue of corruption; punishing what needs to be punished and rewarding what needs to be rewarded, and then guard the national treasury like the due process mechanism is doing now. If we are successful at it and make it endure, things will definitely change. In fact, the change has begun. Insight into the book Starting with the Pursuit of Value for Money which was a normative, set of techniques, we find out that a lot of work is being done by the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit in the pursuit of value for money in the application of government resources. What happened hitherto was that the treasury gates were opened, and contracts were being awarded to those who hadn’t the competency to execute them. Contracts were not monitored for efficient and effective execution and were usually abandoned. But now, with due process, government has put in place a very good system to ensure that budgets as passed are implemented efficiently by awarding contracts not only to those, who are qualified to execute them, but that such contracts are diligently monitored for efficient completion. And if this continues, you will find out that only those who qualify to draw from the national treasury will do so, which by extension means that reward will only be given to people who have performed well and not those that have stolen money. If the due process mechanism is sustained, people will begin to imbibe a sense of honesty, integrity, hard work and transparency. Book availability Well, for instance, we are planning to present Budget Implementation and Value for Money: The Due Process Experience to the public at Nicon Hilton, Abuja, on Thursday, December 15, because it is mainly a public sector book. We are also trying to ensure that we invite government functionaries at the Federal, State and Local Government levels to the public presentation because the due process thing is only now a Federal Government affair. It will not work effectively if other tiers of government do not buy into it. Cultural interest That’s very interesting, if you read my first book, I talked about the 80-20 rule. Eighty percent (80%) of result comes from 20percent of the input and it is something that cuts two ways. One, it shows that 80 percent of inputs are useless or generate very weak results. It also shows, on the other hand, that if you are able to apply 80 percent more positively you can multiply your performance or results. I believe that cultural groups and meetings are good, but one has to find a balance in a way that you don’t allow those things that do not contribute positive results to waste your time. One is not saying that one should not contribute. Yes, I attend village meetings, cultural gatherings, but I make sure that I belong to the ones to which I am able to add value and could also contribute value to my life. This creates time for me to do other things. Nigeria in the nearest future That is very interesting, it is my sincere belief that if as a people we consistently follow the due process practice, Nigeria will grow to become one of the very rich countries of the world because we are bountifully endowed with human and natural resources that have hitherto been squandered by corrupt practices, and attitudes, which created a lot of waste. If we start to do the right things and do things right, the sky is the limit for us. Doing things right is efficiency and doing the right thing is effectiveness and achieving objectives. These are the key things in the book. Therefore, if every Naira that is budgeted for a project is spent on the project, then you will find that our schools will improve, our hospitals will be better, and our roads will be good. In this wise, it will take a very short period for Nigeria to be turned around.