Ekiti State GovernorKayodeFayemiand Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai have advocated a restructuring of Nigeria.
Both added their voices to the growing calls for the country’s restructuring at the 50th Anniversary of the Centre for Historical Documentation and Research (Arewa House) in Kaduna yesterday.
Speaking on the topic: “Unfinished Greatness…Towards a More Perfect Union in Nigeria,” Fayemi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF),called for a restructuring that will cement the unity of Nigeria and engender a perfect union among its peoples, irrespective of their ethnic, religious, cultural and linguistic differences.
He also suggested an equitable revenue allocation formula that will speak to the federalism Nigeria has adopted and give more resources to states and local governments, which carry more responsibilities.
In his view, a review of the sharing formulae to 43 per cent for states, 35 per cent to the federal and 23 per cent to the local governments will go a long way to devolve more responsibilities to constituent units and reduce the concentration of powers at the centre.
In his address, Governor El-Rufai said Nigeria could only attain greatness if she restructured. He critised leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for failing to implement the report of the committee he chaired on true federalism in 2018, which if implemented, will be a roadmap to the nation’s greatness.
To him, restructuring the country is an opportunity that should not be toyed with, as it will allow each state to be independent in managing its affairs without relying on the Federal Government.
El-Rufai called on federal legislators and the National Assembly Ad-Hoc Committee on Constitutional Review to take advantage of his committee report and initiate constitutional and legislative amendments to take care of restructuring without further delay.