The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, says beyond policy, Nigeria needs patriots, including citizens, leaders, and institutions, ready to be counted in order to establish a federation that serves the people.
According to him, the problems attributed to the current federal system often stem from the poor management of resources rather than from any inherent flaw in the country’s constitutional architecture.
Senator Shettima made the observation in Abuja during the 7th edition of annual LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE & AWARDS, held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.
The Vice President, who was represented at the event by the Special Adviser, General Duties to the President (Office of the Vice President), Dr. Aliyu Modibbo noted that, the Nigerian challenge, when carefully considered, lies less in the structure of the country’s federalism and more in the deficit collective fiscal responsibility.
In a statement, the Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications, Office of The Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha quoted the Vice President as saying, “rather than mold Nigeria’s federal system after the ones in Canada and parts of Europe, efforts and attention should be focused more on reforming to meet the country’s unique realities.
“We must resist the temptation to romanticise foreign systems or prescribe imported solutions that fail to account for our distinct social, ethnic, and demographic complexities”.
Senator Shettima highlighted current efforts by the current administration to confront some of the challenges emanating from the federal system, noting that it is the only path to sustainable development.
“One such step is our unflinching pursuit of local government autonomy—a vision we are realizing through the sanctity of due legal process. The recent Supreme Court pronouncements in favour of autonomy underscore our commitment to building a federal structure that works for the grassroots. This is how we make the federation functional: by bringing governance closer to the people”.
“The policy choices pursued by this administration—from the removal of fuel subsidies to the introduction of tax reform bills—are aimed not only at guaranteeing a fiscally responsible federation but also at creating a system that offers each state both increased allocations and the opportunity to participate in debates and reforms for long-term fiscal stability,” the VP added.
The Vice President commended the LEADERSHIP Media Group for creating the platform for dialogue and recognising excellence, calling on the awardees to note that “today’s honour is both a celebration and a call to duty”.
