Osinbajo says Buhari administration is committed to restructuring of the federation

VICE president Professor Yemi Osinbajo ha revealed that the current administration is not opposed to the restructuring of the Nigerian federation as is currently being canvassed in many quarters.

Since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office in 2015, calls for the restructuring of the federation have become deafening, with the various component parts of the country agitating for a return to the formula agreed at independence in which the federating units controlled their resources. This position, however, appears to be opposed by the federal government, which is keen to hold on to the status quo.

During Nigeria's First Republic that lasted between independence in 1960 and 1966, the federating units controlled all the wealth that accrued within their domains, handing 50% of it to the centre. At the time, the federal government got 20% of such taxes, while 30% went into a central pot, now known as the Sovereign Wealth Fund.

Speaking in Ado Ekiti yesterday, Professor Osinbajo said the Buhari administration was in support of any form of restructuring that would benefit Nigerians. He added that Nigeria needed peace more than any other thing at this time and berated those who called for the division of the country, pointing out that the nation was better off as a united country.

Professor Osinbajo said: “I want to say that this country is strongest, this country is best when we are one, when we are united. It is a united country that can make a difference, so we are fully in support of any form of restructuring that will benefit the people of our country.

“That is why, for example, the president just signed this into law, a bill which enables houses of assembly to be autonomous, so that their finances are autonomous. This is some form of devolution of powers and we are also keenly supportive of anything that gives a measure of independence for states so that the states can realise their own potential and do very well for themselves in every way."

He noted that there was nothing politicians would not say especially as the nation approaches elections. Professor Osinbajo, however, said the present administration was committed to keeping the nation as one and ensuring that no life was lost during electioneering.

“As we approach the elections, people say all sorts of things even in order to win elections, in order to gain ascendancy.

According to Professor Osinbajo, President Muhammadu Buhari was committed to the development of all the states of the federation irrespective of the political party in charge of the states. He said that was why Ekiti State had been benefitting from the federal government’s Social Investment Programme despite being a Peoples Democratic Party state.