Nigeria is a failing state – Jega

Nigeria is a failng state – Jega

Says return to Parliamentary system would be a terrible mistake

Argues that power and control of resources at the federal must be decentralised

From Paul Orude Bauchi

The immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Attaihiru Jega has described Nigeria as a failing state.

Jega lamented the high cost of running the Presidential System of government in the country but rejected a push for parliamentary system as some are currently doing.

He said there was urgent need to reduce power at the federal level and decentralize such to the states and local government for Nigeria to move forward.

“We need to reduce the power of the federal government because with that power whosoever is elected as President controls all the resources,” he argued.

He made the assertion on Friday at the maiden convocation lecture (combined 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th. 5th 6th and 7th) of the Bauchi State University Gadau, accusing the ruling class of reckless spending and abuse of power

The Political Scientist spoke on the topic Safeguarding Nigeria’s Future:Prioritising Citizens Welfare and Security Amidst challenges.

The convocation lecture was attended by eminent Nigerians, including Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Professor Ango Abdullahi among other dignitaries.

Jega argued that Nigeria was heading towards a failed state because the political class, especially the executive arm of government both at the central and state level, exercised power recklessly.

Jega lamented that the ruling class had taken power to destroy the institutions rather than building them.

“In addition to that, they have also raised the cost of governance in such a way that even run away  cost of governance is a serious challenge that can put Nigeria in jeopardy,” he warned.

“Even United States that operates the Presidential system of government, there are controls and mechanism that ensure sanity  in terms of expenditure control and some penalty that detracts from a tendency to be profligate in terms of expenditure”

The former INEC boss advised that the high cost of governance must be addressed to safeguard the future of the country.

He suggested the need for constitutional amendments hinged on policy decisions to cut the cost of governance 

“I am saying this because it appears there is now a movement of some elite that is pushing for the return of the parliamentary system,” he stated.

“I think it is a terrible thing to happen to my mind.

“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?”

He opined that until the culture that caused profligacy in governance was properly addressed, going back to parliamentary system would be disastrous and not solve the problem.

“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”

He said a combination of declining values and bad governance had moved the country towards economic failure.

“I don’t believe that Nigeria is a failed state but we must realize that Nigeria is a failing state and if we put it in jeopardy and don’t safeguard it then the worst can happen”

He believed that the academia has a crucial role to play in moving the country out of its present quagmire.

“Those of us in the academia whose business is research, analyses, we have a major responsibility,” he noted.

“But our leaders need to actually try to understand this dynamics and find ways and means of engaging constructively in order to address it”

On restructuring, Jega advised that a lot needs to be done before pushing for structural reforms in other not to miss a major opportunity.

“My argument is that between now and 2027, we need to put our heads together, have an evidenced- based, rational process of restructuring of the Nigeria federation,” he suggested.

“To my mind the major thing we need to do is actually to decentralise power and the resources from the federal tier, and spread them to the states and local governments, even if all we do is to go back to the way resources were distributed in the 1960s, we should do that.

“I really think we should do beyond that because we need to reduce the power of the federal government “

He said the danger inherent in the power at the federal level lies in that fact that perceptions are created that such power is used by one group against another.

“Especially now there is the fear that is more power and resources go to the state governments and local governments what we see happing in Nigeria now, many people are afraid that it cannot solve the problem,” he stated.

“But my own thinking is that the more power and resources in the states and the local governments the less attractive the federal government becomes then many people will concentrate in terms of bringing development to the local governments and state”

The former INEC boss also recommended that the political elite must find ways and means of reducing overdependence on revenue from oil.

He called on the ruling class to boost agricultural productivity, agro allied industries and create opportunities for the teeming unemployed youth population.

“We should also ensure that we refine the manufacturing sector,” he said.

“No country develops if it cannot consumes sufficiently from the home market.

“A situation in Nigeria where virtually everything is imported is our recipe for disaster and can push our country into a situation in which we cannot safeguard”

 The renowned scholar argued that the state persists among other things in order to carter for the security, welfare and basic needs of citizens.

“In fact no nation can exist without institutional arrangements to promote the human, security, and the well-being of its members,” he stated.

“Any state that fails to do this, in the modern context, will be considered as a failed state.

“Due to the resources ordinarily available to the state, it should have the capacity and competence to address security challenges and to actually decisively succeed in doing so.

“In this context, the Nigeria state needs to discharge its obligations to the citizens because currently it is not discharging it.

“However, the citizens also need to recognize that they have obligation of citizenry to their country and therefore have a significant role to play in facing the present and safeguarding the future of Nigeria

“The situation where people are withdrawing and doing “Sidon look” does not help.

If they just sit and watch while the polecat class does its own ultimately they will destroy the future for everybody. 

“So constructive engagement is absolutely necessary and in god times or in bad time citizens have a good role to play to ensure their country survives and good things happen that are beneficial to ordinary citizens

“Ultimately, the best way to safeguard Nigeria’s future and secure the welfare of citizens is to have elections with integrity

“”Through an electoral process that is not captured by reckless politician will bring good politics and their elected representatives who have the positive values and orientation in the governance processes and institutions and who will harness societal recourses and quality services.

“Only in this way that the state will have the requisite legitimacy, stability, competence and capacity as well as resourcefulness to address the needs of the people and to safeguard the future as a county”