Dr. Joe Abah studied Law at the University of Calabar and worked on many human rights cases in the era of military rule. He obtained an M.A. from the London Guildhall University, United Kingdom. He thereafter went into the Governance sector, first working on public sector reform programmes for the United Kingdom Prime Minister’s Office. He has spent more than 10 years managing governance programmes in Nigeria for the U.K. Department for International Development, including on the DAI-led State Partnership for Accountability Responsiveness and Capability project. From 2013 to 2017, Dr. Abah took a post with the Government of Nigeria
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“POCKETS OF EFECTIVENESS” IN NIGERIAN PUBLIC SERVICE AND LESSONS FOR ACCELERATING NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
It is well established that even in countries that have poor governance and weakpublic sectors, exceptional, well-functioning government and government-supportedagencies do exist. – David K. Leonard (2008)You need to do ten times what is ordinary in this environment to get anything done.You need to be a little crazy. – Nuhu Ribadu. 1.0 IntroductionI start this lecture by paying tribute to the convener of the Iju Public Affairs Forum, Professor Ladipo Adamolekun. Many would ask what the purpose of these lectures is. Why does an accomplished, world-class intellectual spend his retirement funds on organizing public discourses on topical societal issues? What
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The ‘Selfie State’: State Capture in Nigeria
Summary: This paper presents a variation on the theme of state capture as it is more generally understood in the literature. The term “state capture” is more widely used to refer to a situation in which non-state actors have captured the state by influencing public officials, or where powerful state officials are using non-state actors to direct state resources to private benefit. This paper offers a different perspective: that in which the state, through its institutions and structure, has managed to capture itself. I refer to such a state as a ‘selfie state’ and use Nigeria as a prism for
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Why You Should Stop Selling Your Votes And Demand For Better Governance
Since the recent elections in Ekiti and the attendant allegations of vote-buying and vote-selling, I have been reflecting on why people sell their votes in an election. As always, we should start with definitions to ensure we are talking about the same things. First of all, vote-buying and vote-selling are not peculiar to Nigeria or even the developing world. It happens everywhere. This is not a defence of what is alleged to have happened in Ekiti, but a statement of fact. Politicians make promises. The electorate votes in response. When a politician promises something that you perceive will benefit you
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To Whom Much is Given
[National Accountability Stewardship and the Role of Public Servants] by Dr Joe Abah 1.0 Introduction For clarity, it is always prudent to start with a definition of terms, particularly as some terms that are presumed to mean the same things to everybody could actually mean different things to different people. There are many definitions of the word “Accountability.” Some definitions, perhaps unhelpfully, simply define Accountability as “being accountable.” Others focus on key attributes such as information, explanation and consequences. Writing for the World Bank in 2005, Professor John Ackerman defines Accountability as “…a proactive process by which
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Ebeano Chronicles – Part 1
There’s this king. His name is Igwe Ebeano of Ebeano Kingdom. Ebeano kingdom is made of 36 villages that came together over time to be one. To keep the peace, Igwe Ebeano must take a wife from each of the 36 villages. There’s also an Igwe-in-Council (Igwe’s cabinet of advisers). Apart from these, there’s an Ohaneze, the consultative group of royalty and the people, the height of democracy. Now Ohaneze is very powerful. They make the laws. They approve who can spend what. They must approve members of Igwe-in-Council. Ohaneze is so powerful that, if the need arises, they can
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EBEANO CHRONICLES PART 2
Now, Dr Aristo is reminded that there was already a conference of Ebeano people proposing how Ebeano could be restructured to be better. Ebeano people believe that implementing the report of that Ebeano conference will turn Ebeano(where we are) to Ebeaneje (where we are going). Dr Aristo is to recommend the report to his boss, Igwe Ebeano. Aristo is actually a native doctor, so let’s address him properly N.Dr Aristo. Igwe Ebeano is not a fan of that report because the Igwe before him that did it spent a lot of money doing it while other things suffered. N.Dr Aristo
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EBEANO CHRONICLES – PART 3
Sorry o. I’ve been told that Nna Bros is Pee Elu Si (PLC) and that their address is Ebinpejo (“the people are hungry”) Lane, Idumota Lagos. Ngwanu. Let’s go. Before we start, let us poor libation to the gods. Our son @Excelgist has provided Seamans Aromatic Schnapps and kolanut. From this schnapps, may we drink long life and good health. From this kolanut, may we eat and get peace and togetherness in Ebeano. We must give our ancestors schnapps to drink. But only a little o. The living are more thirsty than the dead. Fave to agree and let’s start.
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Ebeano Chronicles – Part 4
This movie is distributed by Nna Bros Pee Elu See (PLC), 10, Ebinpejo (the people are hungry o) Lane, Idumota, Lagos. N.Dr Aristo out! They insist on giving N.Dr Aristo a chieftaincy title o. Some call him Onwa (the moon), some call him Nwokorobia Agu (the gentle lion). Which title should N.Dr Aristo take? Onwa (the community’s moon) or Nwokorobia Agu (the gentleman lion) — Dr. Joe Abah (@DrJoeAbah) February 19, 2017 It’s time! Ndi Obodo Ebeano, ekene mu unu o. I greet you all. Welcome to our markate skwiya one and all. At our last nzuko (meeting), Ndi
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Ebeano Chronicles – Part 5
Ebeano is clearly in the house! Nno nu. You are all welcome. I see an empty seat. Where’s the scribe to Igwe Ebeano. You say he’s dangling? pic.twitter.com/gMckUDS8gx — Dr. Joe Abah (@DrJoeAbah) April 22, 2017 Mazi Ade @Hammdriller, you came to our nzuko too? Nnooo. How is your leg? Hope it’s healing. You see, Mazi Ade took a young new wife. You see, the young new wife is a gymnast. Whenever she and Mazi Ade are doing what men and women do at night, he has no problem “arriving.” But before she can “arrive”, she must summersault first. Once
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