A former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, has warned that Nigeria is a failing state and the leaders and citizens need to safeguard the system in order to prevent “the worst” from happening, Sahara Reporters is reporting.
Jega, who presided over the 2015 general elections, noted that Nigeria has a “coagulated presidential system” which is not the best in the world, while calling on the leaders to reduce the costs of governance.
He spoke on Saturday while delivering the convocation lecture at the Bauchi State University, Gadau, on the theme, ‘Safeguarding Nigeria’s future: Prioritising citizen’s welfare and security amidst challenges’.
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.”
, Prof Attahiru Jega, has warned that Nigeria is a failing state and the leaders and citizens need to safeguard the system in order to prevent “the worst” from happening, Sahara Reporters is reporting.){kind=link}