Babachir Lawal, former secretary to the government of the
federation (SGF), says if he has his way, the country will have only federal
and local governments.
Speaking with journalist in Abuja, Lawal described governors
as “parasites” who take a major share of the country’s resources and “abuse”
it.
The former SGF made the comments when he was asked what he
would like to see changed as the national assembly attempts to amend the
constitution.
He said there is a need to have a federal government because
some institutions of state need to have a national outlook.
“I’m not a constitutional expert but i know if I had my way
in the setup of this country, the governors in the middle are just parasites that
are taking the major share of the resources that are supposed to the go to
states, they abuse it,” Lawal said.
“If I had my way, there would be federal government and
local governments, such that the resources that are due to the state would be
shared equally with the local government at that level and a lot of things will
be done.
“In the case of the federal government, we understand why it
has to be federal government. There are some institutions that have to be
national in itself. The army for example, the federal police must be there,
foreign affairs must be there but the states, we can devolve the powers back of
the states to the local governments.
“At the local government, they are closer to the people,
because they are closer to the people, people are able to monitor them. People
are able to get in touch with them, people are able to check their excess if
any.”
The former SGF also said it would be best for the country to
have a unicameral legislature.
“Another option will be to return back to the parliamentary
system, where everybody in the parliament is an elected official that is
accounted to the people, one who would be president would have been one the
election,” he said.
“The presidential system is so expensive and the
presidential system has concentrated power and authority on one person and
whoever else he chooses to delegate that authority to.
“In a place like Nigeria where we have different aspirations
and different belief systems and different world views, decision making needs
to be decentralised.”
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