The Economist Nigeria

Nigeria Hints of a new chapter Nov 12th 2009 | ABUJA, KANO AND YENAGOA From The Economist print edition As militants lay down their arms in the Niger Delta, the battle is on to tackle Nigerias other massive ills IN YENAGOA, the capital of Bayelsa state in the Niger Delta, giant billboards in the centre of townspeople proclaim the dawn of a walking, talking ideologyâ€"Sylvanomics. both(prenominal) new fad, perhaps, from the IMF or the World Bank? No; the take in of a beaming, youngish-looking military man in a jumpsuit and plug hat hat shows that this is all about the new state governor, Timipre Sylva. The man in person enthusiastically explains more in the tremendous surroundings of Gloryland, the governors mansion. Bayelsa is the first of Nigerias 36 states to invite in outside accountants and advisers for a thorough inspect of its finances. They be now going over the states payroll and procurement policies, as well as the revenues from the federal official government, which (as in all states) supply most of Bayelsas income. Vitally, the bean-counters go forth also audit the deeply obscure flows of money that go out again from the state coffers to the Local Government politics (LGAs). These are supposed to spend the money on the poor people who live in deep poverty in the swamps and creeks of the Delta.

If waste and degeneration are cut out, they should benefit. Transparency has a direct link to development, says Mr Sylva. Nigerians, particularly in other statehouses, are looking on with a mixture of awe and offense at Mr Sylvas audacity. The statehouses are the biggest source of the corruption and mismanagement in Nigerias political system. Some of the governors in the oil-rich Delta command budgets bigger than entire west African countries, hitherto traditionally, after they have spent most of the money on their own helicopters, limousines and Glorylands, together with gangs of hired thugs at election time, there is little left over for anything fancy like schools or hospitals.... If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: Orderessay

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