In the first part of this two-part article published on Tuesday 1, October 2024, I posited the need for the President to convene a National Conference for Nigerians to decide how they want to be governed. This is premised upon the fact that the current system foisted on us by the military is not leading us anywhere. We do not need anyone to tell us that the political class that hijacked the democratic process the military midwifed in 1998/1999 is the most corrupt and unpatriotic class in the country.
Assuming that the President heeds my advice, and decides to set up the proposed National Conference, I wish to make the following submissions to the would-be Conference as part of the documents it would be receiving from citizens and institutions for its consideration.
Nigeria’s Pathway:
1. Do away with Presidential Democracy
What a burden, what a shackle the borrowed American presidential democracy is to Nigeria. The pomposity, the expensiveness, the exploitative nature of this system of governance on our poor country, with egoistic big men, is beyond comprehension. It should end on May 29, 2027 when the current President, the Governors and the legislatures might have served out their terms.
In effect, not only would the presidential system come to an end by May 29, 2027, the 1999 Constitution (as cosmetically amended) should expire on that date. Just as the presidential system, the Constitution we currently have, is a pain point for Nigeria. Both deserve beautiful places in our museums.
At this stage of our development, I believe that a unicameral parliamentary system of government is best suited for Nigeria given its inexpensive nature in order to free resources wasted on presidential bicameral government to human capital and infrastructural developments. Given what we know today, having the senate and the House of Representatives is sheer waste of resources. Parliamentary democracy as practiced during the first republic will fix the problem.
2. Abolish State Structure; Establish six to twelve Regions
Did Nigerians see the report that said that 32 of our 36 state governors spent (wasted is the most appropriate word) N69B in six months on local and international travels and attracted zero investments into their states? That report epitomizes the degree of rottenness in our states. The search for foreign investors, which started in 1999, is a scam. Of all that is wrong with the current system of governance in Nigeria, nothing is worse than the roles our various governors play. Since 1999, they have been the real termites chewing on our common patrimony. Unfortunately, most Nigerians focus on the presidency and the federal government. As opaque as the federal government and its institutions are, transparency at the state level is similar to darkness. Most state governors determine who gets what contracts, when a dime is released, who gets appointed to any level, and all sorts. You hardly hear about developmental programs at the state level except it has to do with politically motivated pet projects of the governor. Often, these are white elephant projects that serve no purpose other than conduits for siphoning off state funds.
The governors are accountable only to themselves, scrutinized by no one, and ensure opposition and dissent are eliminated. They are the most lawless set of Nigerians. They rack up much of the money in their states and leave the people poorer. Their sense of profligacy is without comparison. Little or no governance occurs at the state level. When a governor travels out of the state, both government house and ministries are deserted, the product of eye service. Governors are demigods who must be worshipped.
So, what do you do with such parasitic system? Throw away both the baby and the bath water. The money that state governors have wasted since 2000 to date would have been enough to completely eliminate poverty in the country.
In its place, have between six and 12 regional governments. Currently, we have six geopolitical zones. We can convert them to regional governments, and increase the number to 12 to deal with perceived or real marginalization. This way, the money that goes to the 36 States will now go to 12 regions and much of it will be used to develop the regions rather than fund dysfunctional structures.
3. Devolve Power to the Regions
I still remember an elective course I took in political science as a university student in the 1980s called Devolution of Power. The lecturer was a Mr. Sulu-Gambari, a nephew or younger brother to the Emir of Ilorin. Unfortunately, I have yet to witness it happen in Nigeria. The time has come to truly devolve power to sub government.
The Federal Government, by virtue of the 1999 constitution, is too powerful and unable to effectively and efficiently discharge its responsibilities. Meanwhile, we deceive ourselves into believing that we a federal democracy when what is on ground is a semblance of a unitary government.
Apart from defense, foreign policy, currency, monetary policies, banking, immigration, and internal security, all other aspects of government should devolve to the regions, or at best be on the concurrent list of the country. Is it not laughable that till date the federal government sets examination for those seeking to enter all tertiary institutions in the country, whether they be federal, state or private institutions? What is the problem this has solved? Let the institutions themselves or their owners make a determination to who gains admission and who doesn’t, based on generally agreed minimum standards. Why have uniformed tax across the country? Supposing a region wants to attract certain investors with lower value added tax, it cannot do so because it’s controlled at the centre.
4. Have Parliamentarians serve on part time
Unless something happens, the budget of the National Assembly made up of 469 members will hit N1trillion within the next five years. Next year, it will surpass N469 billion (that is N1B per legislator!). That is madness! Where do you see that happen and the people see progress? That is equivalent of spending N2.7 million a day on a legislature…and N114,155 per minute. The N114,155 Nigerian taxpayers would be spending to keep a federal legislature every minute is the equivalent amount a minimum wage earner would receive in one and a half months. Bicameral system is not only expensive but also unnecessary. There is nothing the upper chamber does that the lower chamber does not or cannot do. A unicameral system is what Nigeria deserves at this stage of its development.
5. Don’t Create Nor Fund Local Governments
Among other things they have destroyed, the governors have ensured that the third tier of government, the local government, is dysfunctional. They appoint and select Yes-men and women as council chairmen; and then give them pocket money to run the councils minimally. These cronies are so happy to do the biddings of their masters because they pocket over half of the money given to them. Let the Regions create and fund local government areas if they so choose. Regions that want to turn every village into a local government can do that so long as they can fund them. The money from the federation account should go to only two tiers of government: the federal and the regional governments. There is need to consciously reduce the cost of governance so as to free up money to tackle the endemic poverty that has bedeviled the country for decades.
6. Fight Corruption
The cancer that is killing Nigeria is corruption; the typhoon that is sweeping away our nation is corruption, the enemy that is destroying our country is corruption. There is no system of governance that can deliver this country with the level of corruption that exists today. The new constitution that should emerge from the National Conference should have zero tolerance for corruption.
First is to automate all payments to government agencies. Next is to severely punish corrupt officials. As a principle, I am against capital punishment; so I cannot advocate it for corrupt officials. And I think the governors and I are on the same page on this! Since 1999 no governor has signed a death warrant on any of the condemned criminals. What I will advocate is life imprisonment for those convicted of embezzling public funds, and 20 years imprisonment for those convicted of embezzlement of private funds. Plea bargain should not apply to the crime of embezzlement of funds, and presidential pardon should not apply in cases of corruption.
A strong message needs to be sent out that what inhibits our progress as a people is primarily corruption in all its forms. Without dealing with this singular problem, we cannot move forward in life as a nation.
Esiere is a former journalist!
