By Janet Bassey (Governance Correspondent)
From the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa administration as Nigeria's Prime Minister in 1960 Parliamentary democracy through the military governments, the Shehu Shagari administration, the Babangida and Abacha years, the Abubakar transition, and the current Fourth Republic administrations of Obasanjo, Yar'Adua, Jonathan, Buhari and Tinubu, virtually every government has announced a development philosophy.
The programmes have changed names, but
the problems actually have often remained with us as a nation.
The Obasanjo administration pursued liberalisation, banking consolidation, privatisation, debt relief and anti-corruption reforms.
The Yar'Adua administration introduced the Seven-Point Agenda and pursued power, transport, education and Niger Delta reforms, but illness curtailed its programme.
The Jonathan administration pursued the Transformation Agenda and agricultural reforms, expanded telecommunications and implemented electoral reforms while also confronting corruption and security crises.
The Buhari administration launched the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, invested heavily in infrastructure, pursued agricultural and industrial policies, expanded social intervention programmes and enacted the Petroleum Industry Act. It also faced recession, inflation, insecurity, fiscal pressure and criticism over the pace and consequences of several policies.
Across these administrations, a recurring pattern emerged: new government, new programme, new terminology, partial implementation, political transition, and policy discontinuity.
That cycle has been one of Nigeria's most expensive mistakes in 66 of political self-rule which started on October 1, 1960. NNL.
