obligation of citizens by Eguriase S.M. Okaka
Obligation of Citizens
By Eguriase S. M. Okaka
Obligation is defined as the moral or legal duty to do something. For example, teachers have an obligation to teach their students to impact knowledge.
Obligation of citizens are responsibilities that the citizens owe to their communities, nation, others and to themselves for peace progress development and harmony to reign in a country. These obligations/duties of citizens are to respect the rights, beliefs and opinions of others, serve in jury when called upon, defend the country against external forces if the need arises, obey laws of the land, and pay taxes as at when due.
Classification of the Obligation of Citizens
Obligations of citizens to a country can be classified into:
• Economic and financial obligations
• Civic obligations
• Political obligations
• Social obligations
Economic and Financial Obligation: It is the obligation of every citizen to contribute to the economic growth of our nation by joining in creating wealth, jobs and viable enterprise, pay taxes, rates, etc. examples of economic and financial obligations include the following:
Payment of taxes, rates, etc., as at when due. Tax is referred to as a compulsory levy imposed on citizen by government. It is collected from individuals and firms, from imports and exports goods produced or sold to in the country. It is collected to meet up government expenses as well as provide basic infrastructures for the common good of the people in a country.
Operate businesses such as trading (buying and selling), import and export of goods and services, etc., thereby contributing to economic growth of the state.
Oblige to work and earn a living: For example workers pay income tax on their monthly salaries received thereby contributing to the growth economy of the country.
Citizens paying for the use of public utilities such water rates, electricity bills and payment for the use of government properties e.g. individuals, firms, churches, political parties, etc., paying for the use of the stadium, etc. all these help to boost the economic development of the state.
Payment of community levy used for community development.
Civic Obligations: These are responsibilities good citizens must perform for the love and respect they have for the country in addition, to the benefits they derive from the country such as in the area of security of life and properties.
These obligations/responsibilities include:
• Obedience to the laws of the land.
• Total allegiance to the country by showing loyalty and patriotism.
• Assisting the law enforcement agencies with useful information and other necessary materials to reduce crime rate in the country.
• Respecting and identifying with national symbols. It is the duty of a good citizen to know our national anthem and identify with the national flag. A good citizen must ensure that the Nigeria currency is respected and protected from been defaced or torn.
• Protection and caring for properties belonging to government and individuals.
• Rendering both voluntary and non-voluntary services such as serving in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Nigeria Red Cross, etc.
Political Obligation: Political obligation refers to a moral requirement to obey national laws. To have a political obligation is to have a moral duty to obey the laws of one’s country. Every adult citizen is expected to involve in government and participate in democratic process in the country. Example of political obligation:
• Exercising one’s franchise which entails voting in elections (Local Government, State House of Assembly, National Assembly and Presidential elections) and can also stand to be voted for.
• Participate in democratic processes, e.g. joining political part. Etc.
• Monitoring the handling of affairs and activities of government. Democracy means that the authority exercised by government is derived from the people. So, it follows then that the handling of government affairs shall be subject to monitoring by the people.
• Respect the rights and opinions of others, as well as being compliant to electoral rules.
• Stay informed of the issues concerning governance and political activities involving your community.
• Join to defend the electoral process. This also involves defending your vote until the right winner is declared.
Social Obligation: Social responsibility is an ethical framework which highlights morals or good ways an individual or organization can contribute to societal growth. It is the obligations that individuals or organization perform for the benefit of the society at large. As a citizen who legally belongs to a country and enjoys benefits, rights and privileges; it is his or her duty to perform social responsibilities such as taking care of public utilities, living peacefully with other people, involving in philanthropic gestures, etc. examples of social obligations are:
• Involvement in community self-help group, i.e., belonging to voluntary groups such as vigilante group that protect the community.
• Participating in environmental sanitation, festivals, national games, etc.
• Voluntarily protecting public utilities.
• Philanthropic gestures by individuals and firms to better the life of the people in the society.
• Individuals tolerating each other and living in peace and harmony for the growth and progress of the community.
• Not discriminating against any person on grounds of gender, ethnicity or religion.
Importance of Social Obligation
When social obligations are carried out by good citizens, the following benefits accrue:
• The citizen’s welfare is improved.
• It leads to greater productivity.
• It boosts the citizen’s morale and encourages others to emulate attributes of giving and involvement in social works.
• It leads to clean environment.
• It gives good image to the citizen and the country.
• It leads to peace, unity and progress of the people in the community.
Consequences of a Citizen not performing his/her Obligations
Failure to carry out our economic, social, civic and political obligations brings negative effects on the people, communities, states and the country. The consequences are:
a) Ineffective security: There is bound to be insecurity in the land when citizens refuse to give useful information to the security agents, e.g., police, and join in the curbing of crimes.
b) Outbreak of epidemics in the land: When individuals refuse to carry out their social and financial responsibilities by cleaning the environment and paying taxes used in paying environmental workers, then there is bound to be increase in diseases and sudden increase in death rate.
c) No provision of social amenities e.g., pipe borne water, electricity, etc.
d) There will be lack of peace and orderliness in the society when people do not obey laws and rules.
e) Unemployment: In a country where citizens do not perform their obligation by paying taxes, obeying laws, etc., people are bound not to get employed because the industries will not be there.
Questions
• State three economic and three financial obligations of citizens to their communities.
• State three civic duties and three political obligations of a citizen to their country.
• State three social obligations of a citizen to his community.
• What are the consequences of citizens not performing their obligations in Nigeria?
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