Former Body of Benchers Chairman Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) has reaffirmed his demand that Nigeria undergo political reform in order to improve stability, prosperity, and African leadership. Olanipekun made the case that Nigeria’s current governance system is inefficient and needs to be redesigned to promote justice and equity during the 11th annual public lecture held in honour of Pastor Enoch Adeboye’s 83rd birthday. He promoted a more decentralised government, emphasising that a country the size of Nigeria cannot be properly administered from the centre.
In order to maintain equitable resource allocation, he proposed a 55-45 revenue-sharing model based on derivation rather than population, and he supported the Tax Reform Bills with some adjustments. Leye Oyebade, a former Deputy Inspector General of Police, advocated for election changes and judicial independence in order to boost national stability and rebuild public trust. He emphasised that a transparent Electoral System will foster unity and lessen post-election disputes. Foluke Adeboye, the spouse of Pastor Adeboye, encouraged Nigerians to live just and equitable lives at home and at work.
Enabling more responsive, context-specific policymaking.
Public officials would be held responsible for their acts, she said, and she urged them to lead with integrity. Additionally, she urged leaders to be patriotic and moral in order to stop the nation from further deteriorating. Nigeria’s ineffective governance has spurred debates about several kinds of restructuring that are meant to improve administrative efficiency and encourage fair development. Fiscal Federalism is a well-known approach that promotes a more decentralised fiscal system. This strategy aims to lessen an excessive dependence on the federal government by giving states more control over their finances and resources.
Fiscal federalism seeks to promote accountability and customise development programs to local needs by giving states the authority to create and manage their own revenue. This could help to alleviate the bureaucratic bottlenecks that come with centralised governance. The devolution of powers model, which entails giving state and local governments certain legislative and administrative authority previously held by the federal government, is another model that has been suggested. By bringing governance closer to the people, this reorganisation aims to enable more responsive and context-specific policymaking. For example, states might take charge of industries like healthcare, education, and transportation, allowing them to enact laws that specifically address their own goals and problems.
Critics contend that restructuring may make regional disparities worse.
Regional development and improved service delivery are anticipated outcomes of this kind of devolution. There are differing views on the planned changes to the electoral process, tax reforms, and restructuring as ways to enhance governance. Critics contend that restructuring may make regional disparities worse, especially through fiscal federalism. Socioeconomic inequities could widen as wealthier governments with more natural resources thrive while less endowed areas suffer. According to this viewpoint, a balanced strategy that takes into account the various capacities of nations to produce income is essential.
Under the proposed 55-45 revenue-sharing formula, states would receive funds proportionate to their Revenue generation, with 55% of federally collected revenue being distributed based on derivation. The remaining 45% would be distributed based on parameters such as population size and social development indices. It would take agreement between the federal and state governments as well as constitutional revisions to put this formula into effect. Nigeria has ineffective governance in a number of areas. The nation’s electrical grid, for example, frequently collapses as a result of ageing Infrastructure and underinvestment, resulting in an estimated $29 billion in economic losses annually.
Related Article: Restructuring Nigeria as a political solution
To overcome inefficiencies in governance and advance equitable development, some actions should be implemented. By taking a balanced approach to restructuring, policymakers may make sure that decentralisation initiatives don’t make regional disparities worse. A equitable allocation of resources should be the goal of tax reforms. Enhancing credibility and transparency must be the main goals of electoral reforms. Holding public officials responsible, actively engaging in governance processes, and supporting laws that advance equality and justice are all ways that citizens can contribute. In order to guarantee that restructuring initiatives take into account the various interests and demands of all Nigerians, Civil Society organisations should serve as a platform for communication between the government and the general public.