STRENGTHENING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE THROUGH PUBLIC PRIVATE DIALOGUES

By Nnabugwu Chizoba

On Friday, the 18th day of December, 2015, the Governor of Plateau State, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, swore in the 17 Commissioners of the State Executive Council, considered here as the Governor’s co-pilots, in the administration of Plateau State. The warning by the governor, against none performance “there would be no place for idleness, laxity and unproductive ventures” is indicative of commitment and determination to deliver on his electoral promises to the people. 

As a matter of fact, one quick and very reliable option to the attainment of governor Lalong’s charge to the commissioners is public engagement. Come to think of it, the Public and Private sector is the same coin, of two sides. If this is the case, it behooves both the government and the governed to recognize that the only way for anything meaningful to be achieved, in the state, as envisaged by the governor, is to come to terms with the fact that, the governor’s address as it is, is a call, by him also to the masses to partner with his appointees to ensure that the promise of the delivery of democratic dividends does not end up as a mere oxymoron. The citizens of Plateau State, cannot afford it. Bickering of all kinds, must stop. They are unnecessary distractions, which will not do anybody good. The governor, yes, is steering the affairs of the state, but the success of his administration will be enjoyed by all, and the failure, God forbid, will be the pain of all too.

There is no arguing the fact, even by those who may claim to be the most committed and astute politicians and party faithful, that the increasing number of policy and governance challenges in the state, such as sustainable peace, quality education, improved health care, security of live and property, inclusive growth, poverty reduction, infrastructural development, integrity in both the public and private sector, do not require active private sector participation, to be achieved.

To overcome the issues mentioned, what readily comes to mind, becomes how to build a policy environment not just conducive to sustainable development, but that also catalysis reforms and promote inclusive policy making, in Plateau state. It has been long established that governments that listen to the private sector are more likely to design credible reforms and win support for their policies. This is because, they are more likely to diversify their sources of information, and in doing so generate and promote evidence based arguments and policies.

From the view point of democratic and open governance, the major tool of public engagement is Public Private Dialogue. Dialogue in this context, describes a special kind of discourse that enables the voices of stakeholders to be heard, so that better understanding, mutual trust, cooperation, improved social cohesion and consensus in opinion and policies are achieved.  The idea, to some extent is to ensure that people with different perspectives and worldviews can work together by simply expanding the frontiers of governance, to embrace all shades of opinions and viewpoints before policies are made. To opine, therefore, that through Public Private sector Dialogue, the number of people committed to decisions on challenging issues of governance are increased will not be a misplaced idea.

The benefits that accrue to the government through the instrument of Public Private Dialogue are many. However, only few will be stated here. PPDs helps to dispel rumour and mistrust, while helping to create a climate of good faith among the government and the governed. Similarly, it has been identified also as a mechanism that has been relied upon to break through negative stereotypes. This is true because investigations have proved that Public Private Dialogue most often than not makes participants more sympathetic to one another even when they disagree and are unable to reach a compromise. As a process led approach towards building a reliable opportunity for differing views and opinions to be expressed, PPD provides a glaring platform for parties to interface, and in so doing, constraints are not only identified but equally stressed and addressed in an all-embracing and openly participatory manner. It is this openly participatory approach that facilitates proper diagnosis, improved understanding of a problem, and ensures that strategic inputs, leading to solutions are systematically generated. Consensus building and unbiased support, with regard to policies, reforms and regulations, are equally achieved through Public Private Dialogues.

As indicated already, PPD as instrument of leadership and governance, can give rise to positive outcomes, in which case, it provides supportive coalitions, necessary to establish, strengthen and spread strong linkages within the entire spectrum of governance. This, occurs when government uses PPD as a sounding board, deliberately engaged to improve the process of policy making and quality of governance.

However, it is instructive to underscore the fact that, to a large extent, PPD has not been properly domesticated, in Nigeria, and Plateau State in particular. On the contrary, PPDs have more often than not, been deployed by government officials, as a forum, for sycophants and party acolytes to gather and sing praises of government and her representatives. Any contrary opinion, is perceived as opposition, which must be crushed by all means. Thus, the known benefits of consensus building, cooperation/collaboration, shared ideas and opinions, and a common front that PPD provides, has eluded the country, the states and the citizenry.  

This clarification is pertinent, to erase any erroneous impression, that this writer is insinuating that dialogue between the Public and Private sector actors in Nigeria, and Plateau State, is a new concept. Nevertheless, the preference by government gate keepers, over the years, to deploy wittingly, every available resources to suppress and compel those that ordinarily should provide the spark, that sharpens the rough edges and set the pace for good governance, to either conform or distance themselves from participation at PPDs, have made some radical analyst to conclude that PPDs have not been in practice, in the state and Nigeria generally.