Atiku repeats his calls for the restructuring of Nigeria saying states should control the economy

FORMER vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has repeated his calls for the restructuring of the Nigerian federation and the devolution of powers to the lower tiers of government as a means of tapping into its huge potential.

Although yet to formally declare, Alhaji Atiku is one of the front runners in next year's presidential elections where he will be looking to challenge President Muhammadu Buhari. Already, he has joined the main opposition the Peoples Democratic Party and is hoping to clinch its presidential ticket.

Over recent months, Alhaji Atiku has joined the clamour for the restructuring of Nigeria as the current arrangement has not only fuelled corruption and a dependency on Abuja but has tied the nation's fortunes to crude oil. In 1958m, Nigeria's leaders agreed a formula that gave the federating units control of the economy with the centre only controlling defence, foreign affairs, ports and railways.

Since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office three years ago, the clamour for a return to this formula has become deafening. Alhaji Atiku has thrown his weight behind these calls, urging the country’s leaders to follow the letter and spirit of federal character and other affirmative action policies to help manage distributive conflicts.

 In his presentation in Abuja at a symposium on federalism, diversity and nation building titled – Tackling the Challenges of Integration in Nigeria, organised by the Institute of Governance and Social Research, Alhaji Atiku argued that if we restructure the federation, make compromises and govern better, we will have a greater chance of transforming our diversity into a national asset. He noted that enduring changes to the country’s structure and redistributive systems can only come about through negotiations and compromises by leaders of the diverse groups and zones.

Alhaji Atiku added that with a spirit of give and take, the capacity to empathise, to walk in the other’s shoes, compromises will be easier. He said the country’s unitary federalism has also been characterised by too much government involvement in economic and other activities.

According to him, the country now has federal roads, schools and hospitals, in addition to business investments that the federal government embarked upon. He stated that the country is a diverse, multi-ethnic and multi-religious society with three dominant groups in three geographic regions each with many minority groups.

Alhaji Atiku added: “We must devolve powers and responsibilities to the federating states. Much of what is currently in the exclusive legislative list need to be moved to the concurrent List and we don’t need federal roads, federal hospitals and federal schools and they should be transferred to the states along with the funds expended on them.

"At best the federal government may establish regional centres of excellence in medicine and research in each of the geo-political zones, which can act as models for state governments. The federal government should hands-off the administration of local governments and states should have the power to create as many local governments as they wish or to not create any."