Much Ado About Confab Report And Restructuring

The last time I checked, many Nigerians in various fields of endeavour were emphatically calling for restructuring of the Nigeria’s State.

Prior to this clamour, hundreds of thousands of individuals cum groups across the country had been equally calling on the Federal Government (FG) to ensure thorough implementation of the report of the National Conference, Abuja (Confab) with a view to restoring various lingering socio-economic cum political quagmires.

It would be recalled that, in 2014, following several agitations by the citizens, the FG under the leadership of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan thought it wise to institute a national conference. Consequently, the proposed conference was inaugurated on 17^th March 2014 in Abuja, the Nigeria’s Capital Territory.

It’s noteworthy that about 492 delegates, that represented a cross-section of Nigerians including professional bodies, were present at the event that was graciously chaired by Justice Idris Kutigi (rtd.).

After plenary session of the historic outing that lasted for months, twenty committees were inaugurated among the attendees. The committees included, public finance and revenue generation; political restructuring and forms of government; national security; devolution of power; politics and governance; environment; social welfare; law, judiciary, human rights and legal reform; public service; transportation; agriculture; society, labour and sports; electoral matters; foreign policy and diaspora matters; energy; land tenure matters and national boundary; trade and investment; religion; as well as science, technology and development.

At the end, the Confab, which was originally billed to last three months but was granted about a month extension, came up with pertinent and mind-blowing resolutions towards settling the nation’s myriad problems. The report (resolutions), which was presented to former President Jonathan on 21^st August 2014, summarily recommended mainly as follows: that,

• The current system of 774 local authorities should be scrapped.
• More 18 states should be created.
• National income going to the FG should be reduced, thereby increasing that of the states.
• There should be modified presidential system of government that combines the presidential and parliamentary systems.
• Power should be shared and rotated at all levels of government.

The report, which bore more than 600 distinct resolutions and produced a 10,335-page work, contained issues ranging from the contentious revenue-sharing formula to the divisive political structure of the acclaimed giant of Africa. However, it’s equally pertinent to note that about #7 billion was utilized for the Confab.

At the moment, an average Nigerian citizen is deeply concerned over the much-talk-about proposed restructuring as well as the ‘awaited’ implementation of the Confab’s report.

From my painstaking view, the prime problem with Nigerians remains that we overstress issues. We often tend to use ‘noisemaking’ to qualify our intent, even when the object is laudable. Which rational being in Nigeria is yet to realize that the country requires restructuring? It depends on the perspective we are looking at it.

From a general context, to restructure simply means ‘to organize differently’. In other words, restructuring is the act of organizing the operational mechanism, or other structures, of a given institution/society for the purpose of making it more viable or better organized for its current needs.

Going by this brief definition, there’s no gain reiterating that Nigeria deserves to be restructured. People are however of the view that the proposed restructuring is targeted toward disintegrating Nigeria; that is a fallacy, or a misconception. Restructuring is arguably a way forward in the present Nigerian situation; hence, such campaign ought not to be overstressed.

Raising much ado over such laudable idea would make people to abuse its potential efficacy. When some things of national interest are being suggested, courtesy demands that we go back to the drawing board in order to cross-examine the essence of such mantra as well as its anticipated impact.

The point is that, all the facets of the country, to include social, economic, and political, are yearning for lobotomy, and such measure can only be actualized via restructuring. Sure, restructuring would help to strengthen the country’s national unity contrary to the ongoing presumptions in some quarters.

Considering the Confab’s report; may I ask, what was really so special about the 2014 National Conference? Prior to the Confab, I categorically made it clear that the proposed conference wouldn’t solve the country’s numerous problems; rather, may end up constituting more harm.

As far as I’m concerned, the conference in question only ended up squandering the funds that would have been channelled into other crucial matters of national interest. #7 billion wasn’t #7 million; it was a whole lot of money. Besides, the duties carried out by the Confab’s delegates could be exercised by the federal legislators; I equally pointed this very issue out, but the candid advice wasn’t heeded.

Talking about the report; was there any consequential resolution reached by the august assembly that was different from what discerning Nigerians had been clamouring for prior to the inauguration of the assembly?

Before the Confab, who didn’t know Nigeria was yearning for additional states; who didn’t know that Nigeria needed true federalism; who was yet to realize that power needed to be shared or rotated among the electorate, at all levels of government; or, who was yet to acknowledge that Nigeria needed to review most of her fiscal policies?

The Confab even suggested that we scrap the existing Local Government (LG) system that was established with the sole aim of taking the government closer to the people, forgetting that why the LG system is presently seemingly moribund is as a result of corruption among the various state governments’ officials.

It’s even more worrisome to acknowledge that the said conference suffered a derivation fiasco owing to ethnic interests among the delegates. It’s not anymore news that various well-meaning Nigerians had rigorously solicited for a return to the First Republic paradigm when regions controlled 50 per cent of their respective resources, 30 per cent was shared among all the regions, whilst 20 per cent went to the FG.

It was against this background that the Southern delegates suggested that the current derivation demand should be reduced to 18 per cent. Similarly, the Northern delegates advocated for 5 per cent revenue allocation toward rehabilitation of the North-East region ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency.

There was agitation that the areas outside the North-East with similar challenge ought to be included as one of the beneficiaries of the 5%, but the Northern delegates frantically kicked against the agitation, thereby causing the derivation proposal to suffer a setback.

We really need to stop overstressing the Confab report, thus concentrate on the ongoing call for restructuring. Nigeria acknowledges her plight; hence, no one comprehends the plight more than she does. He who wears the shoes knows where it pinches most.

In other words, we don’t need further analysis or directive before realizing how to address the lingering anomalies. We are required to fiercely hold the bull by the horn, and quit from indulging in frivolous and retrogressive debates to avoid causing more harm to the system.

In essence, our plight can only be adequately tackled and solved if we embraced reality. The predicaments are glaring, so are the remedies.