PETER PRINCIPLE AND NIGERIA
As I was reflecting on the Nigerian sociopolitical situation and our politicians, a principle I learned years ago came to mind—the Peter Principle by Laurence J. Peter. Although originally intended as satire, the Peter Principle holds true. It states that when you keep promoting a person within a hierarchy, they may start off as highly competent at the lower levels. With each promotion, they may continue to be competent, but eventually, they reach a level where they become incompetent. In essence, if you keep promoting someone without ensuring they develop the necessary skills for their new responsibilities, they will eventually reach a level of incompetence.
This principle applies especially to politics. Being a competent politician at a regional, local, senatorial, or governorship level does not automatically qualify someone to be the president of a complex nation like Nigeria. Similarly, being a commissioner in a state does not qualify one to become a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. You might be an excellent professor of economics, but that alone doesn’t make you qualified to be the governor of the Central Bank. A skilled banker could be promoted to the position of Central Bank governor, yet still fail if they lack the necessary expertise. This is the current situation in Nigeria—people are being promoted into roles where they are ultimately incompetent, leading to systemic failures.
Another issue we face is that many people see their positions as entitlements or traditional offices, and they refuse to resign even amid severe misconduct and failures. This is particularly frustrating in a nation brimming with brilliant minds who have excelled globally.
Take Dangote, for instance. He might be an excellent businessman, but that doesn’t qualify him to be part of a group tasked with restoring Nigeria’s economic fortunes. Dangote’s success hasn’t been purely due to excellence; government patronage and favorable regulations have played a significant role. How can you build one of the largest refineries in the world without securing the basic raw material supply? Now, with the refinery built, he faces unexpected challenges—a situation that highlights the dangers of inadequately preparing for leadership.
We risk perpetuating a cycle of incompetence. For example, I have a very good driver who is dedicated and trustworthy, but I hesitated to promote him to a position involving money because, as my wife pointed out, his temperament might not suit the role. Similarly, I considered promoting someone else working for me, but I realized that even a minor issue could undermine him because he hasn’t fully developed the necessary skills.
Managing a state is different from managing a nation, just as managing a local government is different from managing a state. We need to recognize the importance of Laurence J. Peter’s principle in all areas of leadership. In businesses, too, we should ensure that our children grow through the ranks and fully understand what it takes to assume top leadership positions.
I know of a young man who recently took over a large ministry. As I read through his CV, it was clear that he had trained himself in every aspect necessary for that ministry to excel. He is competent and is doing well because he prepared thoroughly.
It’s not enough to have ambition; you must first develop yourself before aspiring to higher offices and positions. Until we prioritize competence in our leadership, Nigeria will continue to suffer from disappointments and failures, with leaders who stumble from one mistake to another.
I remain Dr. Charles Apoki. God bless you.
