Says there is duplication of State and local government responsibilities by creating Zonal Commissions
…there are no political parties in Nigeria but a group of self centred and not people centred money grabbers
Former Secretary General of Transparency International,Gen Isola Williams, Rtd, has said that rather than strengthening the practice of federalism bequeathed to the country by the founding fathers, the President Bola Ahmed Tinubus government like the various military regimes, has weakened practice of Federalism by taken over aspects of governance which the constitution has given to states and Local governments.
As for him, Creation of Zonal Commissions has created duplication of State functions and making the Federal government delve into areas better handled by states.
This to him,”has made the governors has more more to spend on other areas without touching the lives of the citizenry.
He spoke on this and other issues in an Interview with Newdawnngr Editor,Tunde Abatan, on the two year old government…Excerpts:
What would you say has changed in the last two years?
A: My initial reaction is that the Governance System is not getting better since 1966 because the Civilians have refused to correct the errors of the Military Regime.
We need to strengthen Federalism with Subsidiarity but it is the opposite with this regime .
The last two years has seen the weakening of the Federal System.
The fault lies with the most selfish and self-centred Governors we’ve had since 1960.
The Followership including Activists in Nigeria has pushed for rights while government is becoming more irresponsible with growing poverty psychoses.
Poverty means PASSING OVER OPPORTUNITIES REPEATEDLY.
The FG is weakening the State as the foundation of Federalism with Subsidiarity in a Multi ethnic Country.
Of what impact is the clean Bill of Health on debts given by the International Monetary Fund,IMF?
A:There are two important continuation of policy and that is removal of subsidy on fuel and later on electricity for market to determine competitive prices and tariffs.
We are seeing that with fuel.
Along with the above is the law allowing State,LG to generate, transmit and distribute energy.
The States and LGAs are getting more Money.
At the same,the,Govt is adopting Topdown approach to Development by creating Zonal Development Commissions in addition to existing River Basin Development Authorities,RBDAs and the Rural Electrification Agencies, REA.
The mandates of these Agencies are what the States and LGAs were constitutionally set up to do.
Of course,the Governors and LGAs Chairs are happy with more money,less responsibilities and nearly zero accountability.
On the other hand,many areas of Federal Responsibilities are suffering because the Federal government is overreaching in the areas of health delivery.
There are too many Teaching Hospitals and Health Centres.
Also in the area of Education there are too many tertiary institutions,
Pensions authorities for Retired Public Officers including the Military and Security Agencies.
Would you say the Federal government has made an impact in getting funds released to local governments as being canvassed?
With respect to LGAs,progress can be made if we go back to Area or District Councils which becomes, Town then City and then Metropolitan Councils with Area Council under the City and Metropolitan Councils based on population and capacity to generate IGR to fulfil its mandate.
Along this line, the Council like the State will have own Public Safety Outfits, Electoral Boards.
Furthermore,each State in the country needs a Constitution and each Council area a Charter just like the Federal Constitution we have at the National level and a constitution defining the relationship with states.
Are the states performing to expectation with increased monthly allocation from the FAAC?
There is no Country without the Communities where the people reside
The Resources above and below the ground are in those communities.
Therefore the Communities are the owners and not the FG, the State and LGAs.
Since the LGA is the immediate Governance System of the Communities and the Constitution empowers the States,therefore the Colonial System of FG owning the Resources must be replaced with a Federal Revenue Generating System as being practised in Canada not USA.
With this System,Federalism with Subsidiarity will bring about a stable country.
There is no State without Minerals and Agric potential in our country.
We need an integrated Country not a United Country.
The opposition and ruling party have started the race for 2027 elections, is it not too early and distractive?
A: There are no political parties in Nigeria when compared to the period between 1960 to 1966.
President Bola Tinubu:Two year of erosion of practise of Federalism
Instead,what we have is a group of Self-Centred not people- centred moneybags gathering.They are a set of greedy Selfish Eiltes with power psychoses and middle age with poverty psychoses forming APOLITRICKAL PARTY with no character and integrity from the beginning.
In our present situation,there is no difference between the manifestos of the so-called parties .
Therefore politricking is part of governance and cannot be distractive at any time. This is the reason why you have OPPOSITION which does not exist in a country of impunity.
In US Presidential System which we copy, the President is God unlike the French and a better and more appropriate presidential system is that of SOUTH AFRICA.
It has proportional representation system with Constitutionally recognized Opposition.
Chief Emeka Anyaoku group needs to study and recommend this system but with Subsidiarity.
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The late British Prime Minister Harold Wilson of UK said,”1 week is a long time in Politics.”
As Elections are dominated by moneybags worldwide which is the case in this country, the opposition can still win if they have the money chest BUT above all, work on the mindset of the followers on the subjects of Affordable Services i.e Public safety in rural areas , Food education, health and housing and public transportation as a priority.
Today, Corruption has become Cultural and Endemic in the Public Service and I am yet to see any innovative way by ICPC and with their CSOs Partners to manage the cancer.
Reforms of the Public Service are impervious to ideas from outside.
Our country is yet to have an efficient and productive public sector even with bribes.
The Public Service can make Nigeria but we are still in an era of primitive accumulation.
