Professor Attahiru Jega, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said Nigeria is a failing State.
“I don’t believe that 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 said.
He made the bold assertion on Friday at the maiden convocation lecture (combined 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th. 5th 6th and 7th) of the Bauchi State University, Gadau
The former INEC chief who spoke on the topic ‘Safeguarding Nigeria’s Future: Prioritising Citizens Welfare and Security Amidst challenges’, also accused the ruling class of reckless spending and abuse of power.
He bemoaned the high cost of running presidential system of government in the country but kicked against the clamour for the adoption of a parliamentary system.
Jega said there was urgent need to reduce power at the federal level and decentralize such to the states and local government for Nigeria to move forward.
“We need to reduce the power of the federal government because with that power whosoever is elected as President controls all the resources
“Even United States that operates the Presidential system of government, there are controls and mechanism that ensure sanity in terms of expenditure control and some penalty that detracts from a tendency to be profligate in terms of expenditure”.
He suggested the need for constitutional amendments anchored on policy decisions to cut the cost of governance.
He said a combination of declining values and bad governance had moved the country towards economic failure.
While speaking on the clamour for a parliamentary system of government, Jega said, “I am saying this because it appears there is now a movement of some elite that is pushing for the return of the parliamentary system
“I think it is a terrible thing to happen to my mind.
“You started with parliamentary system, you moved to Presidential, you are not doing it well, and you think the solution is to go back to parliamentary system?”
He opined that until the culture that caused profligacy in governance was properly addressed, going back to parliamentary system would be disastrous and not solve the problem.
“The problem is we have a presidential system and it is a coagulated presidential system, one that is not taking the best practices of other presidential system in the world and it is important we pay attention to this”.
