A problem discussed is a problem solved and this brings out the beauty of the national conference that has provided an opportunity for Nigerians to deal with the critical issues facing the nation on the table. The conference’s resolutions on the report of its committee on political restructuring and forms of government last week shows good progress in charting a way forward towards a home grown democratic structure.
The work of the committee on political restructuring and forms of government, which was to primarily examine the extant structure and forms of governments in the context of the peculiar circumstances of Nigeria’s diverse and multi-ethnic setting, is a job that needed to have been done before adopting a system of governance. The challenges we have been facing as a nation can be traced largely to the fact that such a study of the Nigeria’s ethnic setting has all along been ignored in our political dispensation.
The intensity of the debates and many amendments that followed the committee’s report leaves no one in doubt that this is indeed the heart of the matter. The debates and amendments have produced resolutions that are defining the way forward for the nation. This is a good example by the giant of Africa for the rest of the continent to deal with their political differences on the round table rather than with armed conflict.
Irrespective of the name a governmental system is called, the best form of government is the home-made model. Yet, a home-made government can falter unless people in power are transparently accountable. Accountability, not just in balancing income and expenditure in the books but in showing how Nigeria’s huge oil earnings are practically reducing poverty, improving lives and reducing inequality. Nigeria’s problem isn’t just the tussle for leadership among the political elite; the real problem with the nation is the ominously widening gap between the haves and the have-nots.
One of the pertinent resolutions by the conference last week is that local government councils not democratically elected shall not be recognised and would not be entitled to revenue allocation from the federation account or from the account of the state government. This represents an effective step to ensuring the relevance of local governments that have virtually paralyzed by state governments.
The resolution to make local governments politically and economically independent of state governments will now compel state governors to conduct local government elections rather than the situation where they appoint interim chairmen, who are not accountable to the people. The decision will pave the way for the realisation of the intended benefits for the creation of the third arm of government.
One major challenge will however remain and this borders on accountability. The present structure of government is found wanting for lack of proper accountability by state governments for funds allocated to them. It can be expected as well that this problem will be further extended at the local government level once revenue allocation becomes direct. While ensuring local government financial autonomy provides a way forward, the inability of states and local governments to ensure proper accountability for revenue allocations will remain a drawback to democracy at these levels of government.
Having taken the first step forward, the national conference will need a second step in ensuring that states and local governments are made effective development agents they were meant to be. The resolution to create independent state houses of assembly is equally a step in the right direction but a more effective check on state governors needs to be enforced from outside the state itself such as the national assembly.
In line with the home-made government model of the national conference, we can place on the national assembly the responsibility of reviewing state governments’ use of funds and evaluating the practical worth of projects claimed to have been completed. The conference has voted to retain the bicameral legislative system instead of the unicameral proposed by the committee’s report. The lower house however can be relieved of a good part of legislative functions and be given the task of monitoring funds utilisation by all governments units.
State houses of assembly can carry out the same function in respect of local government councils while exceptional cases should be referred to the House of Representatives for investigation. This will enthrone accountability, which is a major issue in the present democratic setting. A critical requirement in the political structure at the moment is how to make government positions attractive only to those who want to truly serve the people and not fortune seekers.
The conference delegates have done a good job so far in seeking to achieve a balance among the ruling class, no doubt. However the growing inequality between the rulers and the ruled, which is spurred by outright stealing of funds meant for development, is the real threat to the security of our nation.
