In the recently concluded Nigerian Economic Summit (NES 26), held on 24th and 25th November with the theme ‘Building Partnership for Resilience’ organised by Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, the issue of power devolution or restructuring prominently featured. One of the key plenary sessions ‘Rethinking Sub-national Competitiveness’ principally focused on examining constraining factors and suggestions for enhancing the competitiveness and productivity of our sub-nationals (states and local governments).
His Excellency, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the Governor of Kaduna State and a panel member during the session affirmed that APC and PMB are both committed to restructuring through power devolution. He explained that the delay can be attributed to internal challenges of APC but that with the current better relationship between the executive and legislative arms of the government, Nigerians should expect good traction on the subject. When asked to identify three items that should be moved from the exclusive legislative list controlled by the Federal government to the concurrent list controlled mainly by the State governments, he listed State Police, Judiciary and Mineral deposits.
With the unprecedented insecurity across Nigeria, one cannot agree enough on the importance and urgency of state police. This is also the case with Judiciary reform that will allow the states to have both appeal and supreme courts to handle all matters emanating from each state. Another panel member Dr Valerie Azinge (SAN) who served as the Secretary of the 2014 National Conference provided very enriching details on the workability and immense benefits of reforming the Judiciary among other factors to empower and liberate the states, businesses and Nigeria with better and expeditious administration of justice.
Focusing on this issue of restructuring or devolution of powers, how do we reconcile the avowed acceptance and support of its importance from very high ranking APC members and the unwillingness of the PMB led government to genuinely commit and make initial steps to convince Nigerians of their seriousness to this most important factor for a better Nigeria.
Just as the first two, the third item identified by Mallam El-Rufai, the need to allow the states to control the mineral deposits in their states also received overwhelming acceptance and applause. Not only will it result in exponential increase in revenue to the Federal government through taxes, it will also immensely help in reducing poverty, insecurity and unemployment in addition to other positive spill over effects. It was unanimously agreed that the current structure where the Federal government controls the mineral deposits in different states in Nigeria is not only counter-productive but against the diversification drive of the Federal government.
In another plenary session with the theme, ‘Nigeria’s Turning Point’ with His excellencies Dr Kayode Fayemi and Hon. Aminu Tambuwal as panel members, the issue of devolution of powers or restructuring also properly featured. Both governors totally agreed and emphasised the pertinence and urgency of the reform. While listing the different items that should be moved from the exclusive list to the concurrent list, they both advocated for better and more effective executive/legislative relationship to expedite efforts to move Nigeria forward.
After listening to the contributions particularly from the governors and other senior government officials, one is left somewhat more confused, the more you listen, the less you understand! Focusing on this issue of restructuring or devolution of powers, how do we reconcile the avowed acceptance and support of its importance from very high ranking APC members and the unwillingness of the PMB led government to genuinely commit and make initial steps to convince Nigerians of their seriousness to this most important factor for a better Nigeria.
While Governor Kayode Fayemi is the Chairman of the all-powerful Nigeria Governors Forum, Governor Tambuwal is the deputy. On a related note, Governor El-Rufai is regarded not only as one of the closest confidants of PMB but also one of the most influential governor and politician in Nigeria. With their positions, influence and network in Nigeria, the question begging for answer is who then is against the overwhelming and widely agreed need for devolution of powers or restructuring of Nigeria. We are told and assured that both APC and PMB are committed to it, the National Assembly agree that it is needed, and the Governors want it, who then is against it? May be the Spirits!
In hushed voices, we are told to not take what politicians say as what they mean. Should we then think that APC as a party, PMB as the President, our National Assembly members and Governors are not sincere with Nigerians. It is difficult! Sometimes, we hear that the North is against restructuring but as Governor El-Rufai explained, the North is worse off with the current ineffective and rapidly failing structure we are using. The North will even be better off in a power-devolved or restructured Nigeria.
In a recent response to the exponentially growing call for the restructuring of the country, the Presidency through Alhaji Garba Shehu maintained that the PMB and his government will not be pressured into making hasty decisions about Nigeria and that the executive arm of the government will continue to work with the legislature on governance decisions of the country. Alhaji Garba Shehu stated as follows: “This administration will not take any decision against the interests of 200 million Nigerians, who are the president’s first responsibility under the constitution, out of fear or threats especially in this hour of a health crisis. The president as an elected leader under this constitution will continue to work with patriotic Nigerians, through and in line with the parliamentary processes to finding solutions to structural and other impediments to the growth and wellbeing of the nation and its people.”
As PMB government maintains that it is focused on attending to the challenges of 200 million Nigerians, it is important for the government to appreciate that central to survival of Nigeria is the need to devolve powers or restructure the country. From the mood of the nation, it seems to be the most cogent thing to do to demonstrate genuine commitment to the survival and welfare of 200 million Nigerians. We are currently in a recession or even a depression and to sustainably grow out of the recession, power devolution or a restructured Nigeria is a prominent factor.
In one my contributions about three years ago, I cautioned that restructuring is a demand that its time has come and that it will happen irrespective of the stand of the party in power. With the exponential increase in agreements on the urgency and importance even from unexpected quarters, I further implore the PMB government to seize the opportunity and start the process. This will bequeath the PMB government with the greatest legacy. As it is something that will eventually happen irrespective of the position of PMB’s government, it will be to their greatest advantage to jump on the driver’s seat given the fact that it is the voice of the people which is the voice of God!
Dr. Ngwu, is an Economist/Associate Professor of Strategy, Risk Management & Corporate Governance, Lagos Business School and a Member, Expert Network, World Economic Forum. E-mail- [email protected],
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