By Ismail Abdulaziz, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Over time, trust deficit has been an issue bothering the intentions of the government in Nigeria and eroding public confidence.

A government, private or corporate body needs public trust to get the buy-in for its various programmes and policies aimed at either benefiting the people or maximising profit.

An eroded public confidence itself means that the naked truth is misconstrued as false because on several occasions, the populace had been let down by successive administrations.

Trust is said to be a firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something; when it is lost, all else is lost.

The famous Greek philosopher, Socrates, placed a high value on honesty and self-knowledge, suggesting that trust, in its most meaningful sense, should be based on understanding and discernment, not simply on appearances or emotional displays.

He believed that virtue, or living a good life, is essential for cultivating trust; he argued that people are naturally drawn to those who exhibit virtuous qualities and that a lack of virtue can undermine trust.

As Ebenezer Obadare, Senior Fellow, Africa Studies, said in Focus on Africa in August 2024, Africans seriously wanted to trust their government, but it must be hinged on a number of factors.

“This trust can be easily regained if government officials hearken to the wishes of their populace, especially frustrated and increasingly desperate young people, for greater accountability and judicious management of resources.

“One thing that African governments must do, as a matter of urgency, is to work towards changing the impression that political offices exist only for the acquisition of personal wealth.

“(This) must be complemented with an aggressive and deliberate pursuit of social welfare.

“Insofar as the primary reason that young Africans are voting with their feet and seeking to start new lives in other parts of the world is the poverty of physical infrastructure.

“To support job creation across the region, African governments must invest heavily in such infrastructure like schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, electricity, among others as a strategy of retaining and nourishing the continent’s best brains,’’ he said.

These key factors, analysts say, are seemly achievable feats by governments that wish to sacrifice for the populace and those run by efficient and effective leaders.

They say African leaders must ensure that governance is hinged on the observance of the rule of law, justice, fairness and accountability.

Experts hold that while ordinary citizens watch the show behind the scenes, they observe signs that give them confidence in a government or leader.

They see the intention behind policies and also see how it affects them and the leader accordingly.

For instance, citizens see how their leader takes care of their personal welfare and health, and compare them to theirs.

They see how and where their children go to school; they also see how men and women around their leaders live before and after taking office.

Also, the citizens see how policies and programmes of the government are being explained to them.

Are they being talked to or talked at? Are they given enough chance to give positive feedback or treated like enemies the moment they voice their observations?

Echoing these sentiments, the Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr Abbas Tajudeen, said that only effective communication by government spokespersons could build trust and enhance public perception of the government and its institutions.

According to Abbas trust and effective leadership communication are pivotal to improving public perception of government institutions.

He said there was need to address the challenges and opportunities of communicating leadership ideals in Nigeria’s democracy, the shared duty to uphold truth and trust, and the steps that could be taken together to reinforce good governance.

“After 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, Nigeria has reached a stage where the way we communicate leadership and policy must reflect the maturity of our democratic process.

“At its core, democracy is not merely the government of the people, by the people, or for the people; democracy, for me, is about government WITH the people.

“This redefinition highlights the need for an active and ongoing partnership between those who govern and those who are governed; this relationship should be built on truth, inclusion, and mutual respect.

“In an era when misinformation can spread faster than facts and erode public trust, the necessity for honest, clear, and inclusive communication cannot be overstated,’’ he said.

More so, experts say the citizens watch how notable national programmes and policies of the government are abandoned in states and local government areas; and how politicians only come to them during elections.

The citizens also observe how government institutions charged with the responsibility of protecting their rights tackle their challenges.

Are they confident that if their cable service provider has issues with them, someone will stand up for them?

When the electricity band they were placed on fails to provide the agreed hours of supply, who takes up their case?

When their landlords indiscriminately increase rent, who stands up for them? When seeking justice, do they get treated like the other person of influence in the society?

These factors and many more expectations of the citizens about their government are significant because they create a certain pattern of impression on their minds about the social contract.

Players in the civil society space say perception is key in any democracy, because what the citizens see is what they believe.

Experts posit that the high cost of sustaining an expensive democracy in Nigeria leads to social suffering and poverty among the most vulnerable people.

By implication, poverty and lack of opportunities further veer the public away from trust and confidence in the ability of political leaders to govern effectively.

Some stakeholders have, therefore, recommended that the government should cut down its expensive political institutions and reduce the high salaries and allowances paid to political officeholders.

They are also suggesting a quick conduct of a national census to know the actual population of the country.

The national census will provide national planners with the needed data to enforce birth control policies where required and give data-driven social assistance to the most vulnerable citizens.

They also want the government to make health care affordable and accessible, and ensure there is peace, order and security to fulfill good governance.

Section 16 of the Constitution outlines the state’s economic objectives to ensure the prosperity and welfare of citizens.

It mandates the state to among other things, “Utilise national resources to promote prosperity and a self-reliant economy; control the economy to secure maximum welfare, freedom, and happiness based on social justice and equality; and promote planned and balanced economic development, support agriculture and industry, and protect the environment.”

As the saying goes, the modern state needs commitment, loyalty and obedience from the citizens, while the citizens expect the state to address their hopes and aspirations.

Analysts say that the government must divest its huge investment in recurrent expenditure to the provision of more pressing human needs like affordable health care, good roads, steady power supply, hospitals, quality education, quality shelter and other infrastructure.

Cultivating trust offers significant benefits, including enhanced collaboration, improved communication, increased productivity, and a more positive and engaged work environment.

It also fosters better decision-making and strengthens relationships, ultimately leading to higher job satisfaction and retention.

In all, it is true that citizens, especially in Africa, desperately want to trust their governments.

In return, African governments need to demonstrate that they can be trusted.(NANFeature)

***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)