Nigeria Failing, Leaders Must Act Or 'Worst' Will Happen — Jega
The worst will happen in Nigeria if we do nothing, according to former INEC chairman Attahiru Jega
Prof. Attahiru Jega, a former INEC chairman, has issued a warning, stating that Nigeria is a failing state and that in order to stop “the worst” from happening, citizens and leaders must protect the system.
He stated, “Our leaders in leadership positions, between now and 2027, we need to put our heads together and have a rational, evidence-based process of restructuring the Nigerian federation, and to my mind the major thing we need to do is devolve power and resources from the federal to the state and local governments. Even if all we do is go back to the way power was distributed in the 1963 Constitution, we should do that but I think we should even go beyond that because we need to reduce the power of the Federal Government. In fact, that power of the Federal Government, in which whoever is elected president controls virtually all the resources, beheads the reality.
“There is fear that if more resources go to the states and local governments, given what we see in Nigeria now, many people are afraid that it cannot solve the problems, but my own thinking is that the more power and resources in the state and local governments the less attractive the federal becomes. Then, the more people will concentrate in terms of bringing appropriate reforms and development. It is very important we truly address these issues.”
Jega expressed regret over the high expense of governance and stated that a reduction in the concentration of power at the federal level was imperative to protect Nigeria's future. He declared that Nigeria was headed toward a failed state because the political class had taken control to destroy rather than strengthen the country's institutions. He accused the executive branch of government, both at the federal and state levels, of careless spending and abuse of power.
While urging the leaders to lower the costs of governance, Jega, who oversaw the general elections in 2015, pointed out that Nigeria's “coagulated presidential system” is not the greatest in the world.
Delivering the convocation lecture at Bauchi State University, Gadau on Saturday, he addressed the topic of “Safeguarding Nigeria's future: Prioritizing citizen welfare and security amidst challenges.”
Furthermore, he continued, “They have increased the expense of governance to the point where it is a significant challenge that could endanger Nigeria.” Jega emphasized the necessity of changing the constitution, especially with regard to policy choices made to reduce the expense of government.
He added, “I am saying this because it appears there is now a movement of some elite pushing for the return of the parliamentary system. I think it is a terrible thing to happen. You started with parliamentary system, you moved to presidential, you are not doing it well, and you think the solution is to go back to parliamentary system.”
Jega clarified that returning to a parliamentary system would be disastrous and would not address the root cause of the governance profligacy until that culture was properly addressed. Regarding the parliamentary form of government, Jega stated, “The problem is we have a presidential system and it is a coagulated presidential system, one that is not taking the best practices of other presidential system in the world and it is important we pay attention to this.
“I don't believe Nigeria is a failed state but we must realise that Nigeria is a failing state and if we put it in jeopardy and don't safeguard it then the worst can happen.”
Jega went on to say that political leaders needed to focus on agro-allied industries, boost agricultural productivity, and create jobs for the youth unemployment rate, which is rife, in order to lessen their excessive reliance on oil revenue.
No comments:
Leave comment here