GRAPPLING WITH DEMOCRATIC PRACTICE AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL CHAPLAINCY SINCE 1966AD

GRAPPLING WITH DEMOCRATIC PRACTICE AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL CHAPLAINCY SINCE 1966AD

Nigeria as a nation and people have been grappling with democratic practice in political and governance since granted independence in 1960AD by the colonial masters. Political and democratic embarked upon by the nation and people were truncated severally by military intervention and military rule, the first of its kind in 1966, only six years of democratic practice trial.

The year 2014AD, marks the first time of 15 years of uninterrupted democratic practice and government in Nigeria. The past 15 years has actually witnessed no military intervention and obstruction of civil and political governance.

However, Nigeria is still grappling with proper democratic practice as the present practice is full of scale of corruption in every sector of our national life, coupled with high rate of insurgencies, terrorism, kidnapping, high rate of unemployment, lack of power and energy, with over 70% of the population living in abject poverty.

Our democratic practice and political governance is yet to get to where our democratic practice will enjoy acceptance by international communities even after 53 years of national independence.

In same vein, our nation Nigeria is grappling with professional chaplaincy practice. Initially, chaplaincy practice which came into the country with the colonial masters had its area of influence in:

i.              The Military.

ii.            The Church.

The practice which has for long been restricted to the military formations and Churches where rhetorical and ritualistic services of the Church were carried out amongst the serving military officers as well as the Church congregation in the case of the Church. However, around year 1981, Civil Chaplaincy made an inroad into our nation Nigeria and Africa at large.

Since the introduction of civil chaplaincy in the country, chaplaincy practice is known to have been frost with:

I.              Deception.

II.            Fraudulent practices.

III.           Militia practice.

IV.          Malpractices.

The police force, as well as the NSCD force are both grappling to put in place proper chaplaincy practice. There is therefore, a sure need for standard practice to be laid or put in place for professional practioners to follow in rendering professional chaplaincy care and service delivery to the generality of the people in best way possible and in most appropriate professional way in line with the world standards and acceptable norms.

In line with the desired paradigm shift in chaplaincy practice from the past, this piece of work is the effort and contributions of a practicing professional consultant Chaplain in advancing chaplaincy profession in Nigeria.

Chap. Prof. David Mike-Jacobs JP, AP, BSC, MBA, PHD, D.D, DED, THD.

DMin. Chaplaincy Major, CPC, CCE, CBC.

Professor of Anthropology.