Nigeria is Failing, Says Ex-INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega

The former Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has utterly expressed that Nigeria is failing and, at the same time, buttressing the need for safeguarding the nation by its leaders and the citizens to prevent what he called “the worst” from happening.

Jega, who presided over the 2015 general elections, noted that Nigeria has a “coagulate presidential system”, which he considers not the best in the world while calling out political leaders to work on reducing government spending.

At the convocation held in Gauda on Saturday at Bauchi State University, themed ‘Safeguarding Nigeria’s future: Prioritizing citizen’s welfare and security amidst challenges’, he stated, “Our leaders in leadership positions, between now and 2027, we need to put our heads together and have a rational, evidence-based process of restructuring the Nigerian Federation, and to my mind the major thing we need to do is devolve power and resources from the Federal to the State and Local Governments.”

He accused the executive arms of government, both at the Federal and State levels, of reckless spending and gross abuse of power of the electorates. Also, he emphasized the need for constitutional reforms, especially in cutting government spending.

While his stated criticism is factual, the citizens are always at the receiving end, and he suggested that Nigeria’s political leaders must find ways to reduce overdependence on oil-generated revenues to delve into Agricultural productivities and Agro-allied industries to create employment opportunities for the teeming youths with its increasing population.

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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