Sagay canvasses true federalism, says Nigeria operating unitary government

The Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay, SAN, has faulted the way Nigeria was being run, stressing that the country is operating a unitary system of government, which according to him, is affecting the states.

He spoke yesterday as a guest lecturer at a special parliamentary session organised to mark the first anniversary of the 8th Lagos State House of Assembly with the theme, “Lagos State in a true federalism and state police.”
The senior advocate, who argued that each region ought to enjoy a measure of autonomy in a true federalism, harped his point on the need for the 1999 Constitution to be amended to reflect the country’s historical development. He disclosed that the independence and autonomy of the regions were destroyed by the military government in 1966.
Sagay stated that the country’s federalism was “too centralised” and impeding the development of the country, even as he faulted the states in Nigeria for placing much burden on the Federal Government.
According to him, “Nigeria has deviated from an ideal federalism because of over-centralisation of power. It is wrong to centralise institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Nigeria Police Council, the Nigerian Ports Authority and others. The late Chief Obafemi Awolowo was right to have said that Nigeria is not a nation, but that it is a mere geographical expression.

“There should be respect for nationalities and the basis of our association should be explained. Under the regional government, the region keeps 50 per cent of its resources, gives 20 per cent to the central government and the remaining 30 per cent is sent to the pool, which would be shared by the state.”
While noting that Lagos State should control the Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports in an ideal federal system of government, he stressed that even if the ports were to be controlled by the Federal Government, the state should get a 13 per cent derivation.
He claimed that Nigeria was the only federal republic without a state police, arguing that apart from the states, local governments and even schools could have their police.


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