MUCH ADO ABOUT CONFAB REPORT, RESTRUCTURING
The
last time I checked, many Nigerians in various fields of endeavour were
emphatically calling for restructuring of the Nigerian state. Prior to this
clamour, hundreds of thousands of individuals cum groups across the country had
been equally calling on the Federal Government (FG) to ensure thorough
implementation of the report of the National Conference (Confab) with a view to
restoring various lingering socio-economic cum political quagmires.
It
would be recalled that, in 2014, following several agitations by the citizens,
the FG under the leadership of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan thought it wise to
institute a national conference. Consequently, the proposed conference was
inaugurated on 17th March 2014 in Abuja, the Capital Territory. It’s
noteworthy that about 492 delegates, that represented a cross-section of
Nigerians including professional bodies, were present at the event which was
graciously chaired by Justice Idris Kutigi (rtd.).
After plenary session of the historic outing
that lasted for months, twenty committees were inaugurated among the attendees.
The committees included, public finance and revenue generation; political
restructuring and forms of government; national security; devolution of power;
politics and governance; environment; social welfare; law, judiciary, human
rights and legal reform; public service; transportation; agriculture; society,
labour and sports; electoral matters; foreign policy and diaspora matters;
energy; land tenure matters and national boundary; trade and investment;
religion; as well as science, technology and development.
At
the end, the Confab, which was originally billed to last three months but was
granted about a month extension, came up with pertinent and mind-blowing
resolutions towards settling the nation’s myriad problems. The report
(resolutions), which was presented to former President Jonathan on 21st
August 2014, recommended mainly as follows: that,
v The
current system of 774 local authorities should be scrapped.
v More
18 states should be created.
v National
income going to the FG should be reduced, thereby increasing that of the states.
v There
should be modified presidential system of government that combines the
presidential and parliamentary systems.
v Power
should be shared and rotated at all levels of government.
The
report, which bore more than 600 distinct resolutions and produced a
10,335-page work, contained issues ranging from the contentious revenue-sharing
formula to the divisive political structure of the acclaimed giant of Africa.
However, it’s equally pertinent to note that about #7 billion was utilized for
the Confab.
Now, an average Nigerian citizen is deeply
concerned over the much-talk-about proposed restructuring as well as the
‘awaited’ implementation of the Confab’s report. From my painstaking view, the
prime problem with Nigerians remains that we overstress issues. We often tend
to use ‘noisemaking’ to qualify our intent, even when the intent is laudable.
Which rational being in Nigeria is yet to realize that the country requires
restructuring? It depends on the perspective we are looking at it.
From a general context, to restructure simply
means ‘to organize differently’. In other words, restructuring is the act of
organizing the operational mechanism, or other structures, of a given
institution/society for the purpose of making it more viable or better
organized for its current needs. Going by this brief definition, there’s no
gain reiterating that Nigeria deserves to be restructured. People are of the
view that the proposed restructuring is targeted toward disintegrating Nigeria;
that is a fallacy, or a misconception. Restructuring is arguably a way forward
in the present Nigerian situation; hence, such campaign ought not to be
overstressed.
Raising much ado over such laudable idea
would make people to abuse its potential efficacy. When some things of national
interest are being suggested, courtesy demands that we go back to the drawing
board in order to cross-examine the essence of such mantra as well as its
anticipated impact. The point is that, all the facets of the country, to
include social, economic, and political, are yearning for lobotomy, and such
measure can only be actualized via restructuring. Sure, restructuring would
help to strengthen the country’s national unity contrary to the ongoing
presumptions in some quarters.
Considering the Confab’s report; may I ask,
what was really so special about the 2014 National Conference? Prior to the
Confab, I categorically made it clear that the proposed conference wouldn’t
solve the country’s numerous problems; rather, may end up constituting more
harm. As far as I’m concerned, the conference in question only ended up
squandering the funds that would have been channeled into other crucial matters
of national interest. #7 billion wasn’t #7 million; it was a whole lot of
money. Besides, the duties carried out by the Confab’s delegates could be
exercised by the federal legislators; I pointed this very issue out, but no one
heeded my advice.
Talking
about the report; was there any consequential resolution reached by the august
assembly that was different from what discerning Nigerians had been clamouring
for prior to the inauguration of the assembly? Before the Confab, who didn’t
know that Nigeria was yearning for additional states; who didn’t know that
Nigeria needed true federalism; who was yet to realize that power needed to be
shared or rotated among the electorate, at all levels of government; or, who
was yet to acknowledge that Nigeria needed to review most of her fiscal
policies?
The Confab even suggested that we scrap the
existing Local Government (LG) system that was established with the sole aim of
taking the government closer to the people, forgetting that why the LG system
is presently seemingly moribund is as a result of corruption among the various
state governments’ officials.
It’s
even more worrisome to acknowledge that the said conference suffered a
derivation fiasco owing to ethnic interests among the delegates. It’s not
anymore news that various well-meaning Nigerians had rigorously solicited for a
return to the First Republic paradigm when regions controlled 50 per cent of
their respective resources, 30 per cent was shared among all the regions,
whilst 20 per cent went to the FG.
It was against this background that the
Southern delegates suggested that the current derivation demand should be
reduced to 18 per cent. Similarly, the Northern delegates advocated for 5 per
cent revenue allocation toward rehabilitation of the North-East region ravaged
by the Boko Haram insurgency. There was agitation that the areas outside the
North-East with similar challenge should be included as one of the
beneficiaries of the 5%, but the Northern delegates frantically kicked against
the agitation, thereby causing the derivation proposal to suffer a setback.
We really need to stop overstressing the
Confab report, thus concentrate on the ongoing call for restructuring. Nigeria
acknowledges her plight; hence, no one comprehends the plight more than she
does. He who wears the shoes knows where it pinches most. In other words, we
don’t need further analysis or directive before realizing how to address the lingering
anomalies. We are required to fiercely hold the bull by the horn, and quit from
indulging in frivolous and retrogressive debates to avoid causing more harm to
the system.
In
essence, our problem can only be adequately solved if we embrace reality. Sure,
the predicaments are glaring, so are the remedies. Think about it!
Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor
(TheMediaAmbassador)
-Researcher, Blogger,
Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-
Chief Executive
Director, Centre for Counselling, Research
& Career
Development - Owerri
_____________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
Twitter:
@mediambassador
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