Nigeria Is Failing And We Need To Act – Former INEC Chairman

Former INEC Chairman Professor Attahiru Jega has cautioned that Nigeria is a failing state and that action is needed to prevent “the worst” from happening.

Jega, who presided over the 2015 general elections, delivered the convocation address at Bauchi State University, Gadau, on the theme ‘Safeguarding Nigeria’s Future: Prioritising Citizen Welfare and Security in the Face of Challenges’ on Saturday, Dec. 16.

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, the power of the Federal Government, in which whoever is elected president controls virtually all the resources, beheads the reality.

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“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, more people will concentrate in terms of bringing appropriate reforms and development. It is very important we truly address these issues.”

Jega decried the high expense of governance as a threat to Nigeria’s future, adding that there was an urgent need to lessen power concentration at the federal level.

He accused the executive branch of government, both at the federal and state levels, of irresponsible spending and abuse of authority, claiming that Nigeria was on the verge of collapse because the political class had acquired power with the intent of destroying institutions rather than building them.

“In addition to that, they have raised the cost of governance in such a way that it is a serious challenge that can put Nigeria in jeopardy,” he added.

Jega underlined the importance of constitutional reforms, particularly with regard to policy decisions that reduce the cost of governance.

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 the parliamentary system, you moved to the presidential, you are not doing it well, and you think the solution is to go back to a parliamentary system.”

Jega said that returning to the legislative system would be detrimental and would not fix the problem until the culture that generated profligacy in government was fully addressed.

On the issue of the parliamentary system of government, Jega said, “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 systems 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 must find ways to reduce their reliance on oil money by increasing agricultural output, focusing on agro-allied sectors, and creating employment for the teeming unemployed youth population.