A former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, has joined the chorus advocating for the restructuring of Nigeria by 2027, citing the nation’s status as a failing state.
Emphasizing that Nigeria risks being deemed a failed state unless it addresses the security, welfare, and basic needs of its citizens, the ex-INEC chief, Jega, reiterated his stance on the country’s political and economic condition.
During his lecture titled “Safeguarding Nigeria’s Future: Prioritizing Citizen’s Welfare and Security Amidst Challenges” at the inaugural convocation of Bauchi State University, Gadau, he stated, “I don’t believe 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.”
Jega proposed a restructuring of the Nigerian federation through evidence-based constitutional reforms before 2027. He emphasized the need to decentralize powers and resources from the federal level to state and local governments, drawing inspiration from successful federal models like India, Canada, and the USA.
“The profound challenges, which currently bedevil Nigeria can be said to be structural, systemic and also related to value orientation”.
“Before 2027, some restructuring of the Nigerian federation should be embarked upon through evidence-based constitutional reforms, the objectives of which should be to deconcentrate powers and resources from the federal tier and to spread them to those of the state and local governments,” Jega said on Friday.
“In doing this, best practices could be learnt from 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.”
Addressing governance and systemic challenges, Jega called for an amendment to the Electoral Act, with a specific focus on enhancing the legal framework for future elections. He underscored the importance of reforming the role of political parties in leadership recruitment and candidate selection processes.
“Amend the Electoral Act 2022, so as to remarkably improve upon the legal framework for future elections with integrity. In particular, pay attention to reforming the role of political parties in the leadership recruitment and candidate selection processes,” he said.
Additionally, Jega advocated for improvements in the appointment process of INEC, aiming to shield it from undue influence and pressures from politicians. He called for a constitutional amendment to recognize equal rights of citizens irrespective of ethnicity and proposed solutions to enhance the state’s role in safeguarding citizens.
Moreover, Jega reiterated the necessity for efficient policing to enhance the country’s security architecture. He stressed the importance of a comprehensive review and reform of the security structure, with a specific focus on policing reforms, recruitment, training, motivation, and equipping for internal law and order maintenance.
This, he suggested, should be complemented by a renewed focus on training and retraining the armed forces for their core role in protecting and defending the country’s territorial integrity.
