I. LACK OF DEDICATED LEADERSHIP:
For a country to develop there must be a
determined will to march in progress on the part of all the
citizens the rulers and the ruled alike . It requires a sense of
dedication to the course of
progress . Determination and dedication
form the bedrock of progress and any
country that lacks this is doomed. Here lies our (Nigeria ) major problem and
obstacle to progress. We have not
had the luck of having leaders who
are completely committed to the course of nation building. We have not had men and women who are rather prepared to
render
if possible selfless service to the country. This is why our leaders can
often afford to spend huge sums of
money in buying obsolete machines for
our use just because they are assured
of 10% as a bribe.
This is why appointments into
posts are made on the basis of
man-know-man’ as the slang goes in Nigeria. This is why key
industries are to be located not in the places best suited for them but rather
in the place that best suit those in
power. This is why contracts are awarded not to those who can most effectively execute their assignments but to those who have
something to offer . Because the leaders do not show good examples the
ruled cannot be expected to
do better. Everyone is only out to see a way of getting his own
share of the ‘national cake’ even when he has
not contributed to the baking and
does not even know where that cake is being baked. For the entire region
of West Africa to become developed there is need for a reorientation.
There is need for personal dedication to
the course of justice and to the course
of progress not just of the
individual but of the entire
nation. The moment we have the right
people in power is the moment much of our
problems are solved. For one thing,
dedicated and enlightened
leadership will lead to a better
combination of the scarce resources for the development of the country.
II. SHORTAGE OF SKILLED AND TRAINED MANPOWER:
Some countries do not have
sufficient supply of trained and
skilled manpower necessary for all here development effort.
The effect of this shortage is felt
both in the planning of
development strategy and in the execution of
the plans . For instance the first development plan in Nigeria
(1962-1968) did not reflect sound
planning . This obviously reflects the shortage of planning skill in the
country. If the plans are not
coherent and consistent the execution is bound to meet with difficulties. Even after the plans have been drawn it requires
skilled and knowledgeable men and
women to execute them.
This
shortage is further seen from the fact that we do not
have a sufficient number of men
and women of sound managerial ability.
Some business start and soon crumble
just because the proprietors have not been able to manage them well. Many do not have
any knowledge of what may be called scientific management. A country that lacks managerial skill
definitely has to fight an uphill battle
in her march to progress
We have to realize that it is rather
costly to import skills because nations
normally try to
avoid their brains being drained . In
this case west Africa requires to embark upon a programme of massive training of men and women of high caliber in different skills, technical and managerial alike
III. POLITICAL INSTABILITY
One of the reason why industrial revolution started in Britain
is that Britain was able to have a stable political system before most
other nations. Stability connotes progress because progress is not a
concomitant of chaos and instability. A harmonious atmosphere is definitely more conducive to
progress since the creative nature of
man is more easily harnessed in such a
situation. At least experience shows that a man who is
constantly form by strife, internal and external, is not the
best suited for experimentation and invention. In like manner a country
that is constantly torn by strife cannot be expected to
perform wonders, development wise.
For one thing, there is always a feeling of insecurity in such a place,
investors are scared away, and people because they are not sure of what
happens next, will rather chose to enjoy
in the immediate instead of postponing it with
the hope of a greater tomorrow . This to a great extent accounts
for the slow progress in west Africa where political instability is rife
. we hear of coups and counter coups. Not openly this, a
country like Nigeria has just
come out of a civil war and the present
situation does not give much hope that
there will not be a repeat performance even in the immediate future
despite the hard lessons that appear to
have been learnt
The situation in the country is not rally a happy one even though
one may look at it as a transitory stage in both the political and economic
development of the country creative minds are needed to formulated new political structures that will
usher in a new atmosphere that can guarantee continued progress in the
country
IV.
SHORTAGE OF CAPITAL:
The supply of capital in the country is far
from being adequate. The general poverty really leads to low level of capital
formation . It is a vicious circle. In many cases the execution of the
national plans have been positively
hindered by the shortage of capital. Money
is a strongman that must not be
taken for granted if any country
must develop. It is the key to many problems. definitely its influence is being strongly
felt in the different countries of west
Africa . Because of the shortage many of these countries are forced into
canvassing for loans that are often obtained on very unfavourable terms.
Earlier it has been pointed out that the
total wealth of any country to a great
extent l depends on the amount of
capital equipment that is available and
being utilized. Poverty makes it difficult for a country to build up
a large stock of capital
equipment . This is the case with west Africa I order to break though
this vicious, circle, the cooperation
of all and sundry is needed.
People should be prepared to forgo immediate
enjoyment for a bigger one in the
future . A country that must develop must be prepared to make
sacrifices . This is the main lesson one
can lean from Russian experience
V.
EXCESSIVE RELIANCE UPON FOREIGN
AID:
As already mentioned , the poverty in
west Africa has led to many of the
countries seeking loans from some of the
advanced countries. In many cases these
counties have tended to depend mainly on
these foregoing loans or gifts for the
financing of their development projects. It is
an age long adage that he who pays the piper dictates the tune and so
the benefactors and not the
beneficiaries often dictate the projects
for which their aid would have
to be utilized . In this case one would
not expect them to finance any project that will seriously compete with their own industries even when
it is clear that such projects are veresentaila in the country
In many cases the donor country requires
that any loan granted must be sued in
purchasing equipment from her. This restricts
the freedom of the recipient country to make the best bargain in the buying process not only this, the equipment often given in the form of loan are of obsolete technology. This definitely does not make for high efficiency in production.
For one thing, in some cases the spare parts are not available since the
manufacturers no longer produce such
equipment . As a result of this most of the
equipment soon become out of use because the spare parts are not available . Because of the
restriction on their freedom to choose
from which country to buy they are often forced to buy even at high prices whereas similar equipment
can be obtained elsewhere at a much
lower price
not
only the above, we have to note also
that in some cases the expected assistance may not be forthcoming .
such can easily thwart national plans as was the case with Nigeria plan of 1962-1968.
Much of the money needed for the plan execution was to come from outside sources but to our
dismay it was not forthcoming. This emphasized the need for us to rely on our own
resources for our development
efforts
VI . DEPENDENCE UPON FORCED DOWN SPECIALIZATION:
Britain and France had ruled the
different counties of West Africa during
the colonial era the different nations were more or less forced to specialized in the production
of the raw materials needed by the
industries in Britain and France. Industrialization
was least pursued . after these
counties had regained political
independence they continued to
produce mainly these raw materials, may
be because of structural difficulties involved
in switching production to new lines, despite the fact that the fluctuating demand for these products
have persistently led to fluctuations in
prices of the products. This very much has affected the income earning power of the
different countries . In order to ameliorate the situation one would
suggest that the economics should be
restructured in such a way that
what is produced is what best
helps us to improve our
income earning power
VII. RELATIVE STAGNATION OF AGRICULTURE
Agriculture which has been the main
occupation in the country ahs more or
less been stagnating there has not been much improvement in the system . This
really retards our ability to raise capital for development and also leads our continued importation of even foodstuff from outside sources. This, for sure, drains our
foreign exchange and thus makes it
difficult for use to import capital equipments
of modern technology . If
productivity in agriculture has been
increasing steadfastly our income per
capita would also have been rising significantly, ceteris
paribus . But because of the relative stagnation not much has been achieved in this direction. If agriculture unproved, its salary effects will
bear even on the other sectors of
the economy because of the fact that
the different sectors of the economy
are linked together. The effect of any improvement in any of them shows
itself on the other sectors
VIII. LACK OF ADEQUATE POWER SUPPLY:
Most of the counties have not got adequate
power supply. This is a handicap to industrialization in
particular and development in general.
Revolution in power supply has been one of the greatest
phenomena that really geared
the world economy an the onward
direction . For instance Germany
owes much to the development of electrical industry.
The importance of power supply need not be over emphasized. Rural
areas are being deserted and no
industries are being attracted mainly
because these rural areas have
not got any supply of electricity it is
because people have recognized the importance of power supply need not be
over emphasized. Rural
areas are being deserted and no
industries are being attracted mainly
because these rural areas have
areas have not
got any supply of electricity. It
is because people have recognized the importance of power supply in
any development process that there
is an incessant call for rural
electrification as a developmental strategy
supply of electric light to the
rural areas will help half mass exodus
from these rural area,
attract industries to live in well lighted rooms is an
aspect of development .
IX. CORRUPTION:
Corruption defined as the abuse of public
power for personal ends has
always existed. During recent
decades, however it has grown both in
terms of geographic extent and
intensity. Since the mid 1970s. it has infiltrated virtually every country in the world. It was hoped
that the easing of political and economic restrictions
that characterized the 1990,
after the end of the cold war would
have gone some way to reducing this phenomenon.
Through increased openness resulting
from political pluralism and the
freedom of the press, the process of
democratization should, under
normal circumstances mobilize efforts
to overcome corruption. However,
emergent democratizes are still fragile and seen to
find the task of tackling
established self interests a formidable one.
X. POLITICAL CORRUPTION:
In
broad terms, political corruption
is when government official use their governmental power for illegitimate private
gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, like repression of political
opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political
corruption illegal acts by private persons or corporations not
directly involved with the government is not considered political corruption either. Illegal acts by office holders constitute political corruption only if the
are directly related to their official duties
All
forms of government are susceptible to political corruption
forms of corruption vary, but include bribery, extortion, cronyism, nepotism, patronage, graft and embezzlement while corruption may facilitate
criminal enterprise such as
drug trafficking, money
laundering and trafficking, it is not restricted to these organized l crime activities. In some
counties corruption is so common that is
expected when ordinary business or citizen
interact with government officials.
The end –point of political corruption is a kleptocracy,
literally ‘rule by thieves” what constitutes illegal corruption differs
depending on the
country or jurisdiction certain
political funding practices that are
legal in one place may be illegal in another. In some countries
government officials have broad or not
well defined powers, and the line
between what is legal and
illegal can be difficult to draw
XI. POLITICAL INJUSTICE:
Political injustice involves the violation of
individuals liberties , including the denial of voting rights or due process,
infringement on rights to freedom
of speech or religion, ad inadequate protection from cruel and unusual punishment. Such injustice often stems from unfair procedures, and involves political system in which some but not others are allowed to have voice
and representation in the processes
and decisions that affect them. This sort of procedural
injustice can contribute to serious
social problems as well as political ones. If
voting or litigation procedures, for example, are perceived to be unjust, any outcome
they produce is liable to be unstable and produce conflict.
In addition, any procedures that are carried out in a
biased manner are likely to contribute
to problem of religious, ethnic, gender, or race discrimination. When the procedure in question
has to do with employment or wages, such issues can lead to serious
economic and social problems.
XII: ECONOMI
INJUSTICE
Economic
injustice involves the state’s
failure to provide individuals with
basic necessities of life, such as
access to adequate food and housing ,
and its maintenance of huge discrepancies in wealth . In the
most extreme cases of misdistribution,
some individuals suffer from poverty
while elite of that society live in
relative luxury. Such injustice can stem from unfair hiring procedures, lack of
available jobs and education, and insufficient health care all of these conditions may
lead individuals to believe that
they have not received a ‘fair share
of the benefits and resources available in the
society.
CONCLUSION
The
reason behind the underdevelopment of underdeveloped states is
the lack of determination. If
people and the government work together for the better future of their
nation they can do, but problem is
this who to start and where to start because the
system is very weak . I believe developed states not guide properly to
underdeveloped nations, developed nations take
them as their competitor. Yes,
underdeveloped states can be develop
with the help of proper utilization of wealth ,
resources, and labor. The main
focus of underdeveloped states
should be on the education of
their people, because educated people and skilled people can play the fruitful role in the
development of country
L.C Ezeaku (1997) Positive Discussions in Economic
Uruowulu
Obosi, Pacific College Press Ltd
Black
J. (1997) Oxford Dictionary of Economics
. Oxford : Oxford
University Press.
Report
of the Conference of FAO 4th Session. Washington D.C,
November 1984
A.G Frank, “ The
Development of Underdevelopment”
Development. Hooool comesta??? Critical Concepts in the
Social Sciences (2005)
Underdevelopment
of Countries. World Problems Issue
Online