Fmr INEC Chairman, Jega Cautions Against Creation Of More States, LGs, Insists On Restructuring Before 2027

By Ayodele Oni

Former chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) Prof Mahmoud Jega, has advised that no additional states and local governments should be created in the country for now.

He made the suggestion while  speaking at the maiden (merged) convocation of the Bauchi State University, Gadau.

Prof Jega who was a guest lecturer, spoke on the theme: “Safeguarding Nigeria’s Future: Prioritizing Citizen’s Welfare and Security Amidst Challenges”.

According to him “The additional resources current states would get from the de-concentration of power and resources  would make all the 37 states and FCT financially viable and facilitative of grassroots development.

“The cost of governance at both the federal, state and local tiers of governance need to be drastically cut, and measures introduced to entrench transparency,  accountability and effective anti-corruption oversight.

Prof Jega, also stressed  the need for Nigeria to be restructured before 2027.

Some restructuring of the Nigerian federation, he added should be embarked upon through evidence-based constitutional reforms, the objectives of which should be to de concentrate powers and resources from the federal tier and to spread them to those of the state and local governments.

He argued that he didn’t believe Nigeria is a failed state but “a failing state”.

Jega urged the Nigerian leaders to learn from the “best practices” model federations, such as India, Canada and the USA in the areas of revenue generation and sharing and adapted to our local context and circumstances.

“Just like the structure of the Nigerian federation, the structure of the Nigerian economy has a colonial origin, primary designed to meet up with, and satisfy, the economic interests of the colonial powers.

Long after colonial rule has ended, the structure has embedded and integrated the Nigerian economy into the global capitalist system, such that it continues to promote primary commodity production, and export primarily to Europe, and import of finished products from all parts of the world.

“This is rather than commodity production through industrial production and manufacturing for both the home market and export.

“Serious reform measures need to be introduced to diversify Nigeria’s earnings from dependence of export of crude oil, to expand investment in agricultural production and Agro-allied processing both for the home market and for export.

“Revive, expand and reposition our industries and manufacturing enterprises, for production, both for the home-market and for export.”