The news in the air this time, is the move by Members of the Federal House of Representatives to create yet, additional 31 States adding to the already existing 36 States in the country. Mathematically, if this happens, the number of states in Nigeria will increase to 67. The bill is being deliberated upon in the hallowed Chambers when most states in the federation practically depend largely on the monthly federal allocation from Abuja, even as the federating units are not doing much to shore up their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to better the lots of the people.
One good thing about our country is that the leaders know how to muddle up issues in order to create confusion in the minds of the people. This they have succeeded in achieving for several years. That is why the country is deeply divided along religious and ethnic lines, unfortunately. We are in a country where many things are not going right. The average person in the street will be lost when you ask about the priority of government. Too many matters are put on the front burner, yet, it’s all motion without movement in our political calculations as a country. For example, the issue of additional states creation has remained a recurring decimal.
The question is; Why are we talking about state creation now when the country is not doing well economically? Is state creation at this time the priority of the country, or to get food on the tables of the citizens, and security restored? Prior to this time, leaders of thought, including Civil Society Groups, Human Rights Activists, Commentators on national issues, and politicians cutting across the political divides, right from the return of civil rule in1999, have continued to call for restructuring of the country, instead of creating more states.
Their argument is that, when the country is restructured there would be equal representation at the centre, and that no section of the country will be cheated or schemed out on grounds of political leanings. Again, they maintained that the imbalance in the body polity would be addressed, and true meaning of federalism which Nigeria says it’s practicing will begin to have positive impacts on the lives of the people.
This call however, led to the convocation of constitutional conference during the administration of former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, where Nigerians from the different ethnic nationalities gathered, deliberated and also recommended that the way forward from the unending political logjam was the enthronement of true federalism whereby every region, be it in the majority or minority, would be treated equally, and given opportunities to thrive as Nigerians, without tribal and religious sentiments which appear to be the order of the day in our society.
We live in a country which prefers to equip the political class than empower the people who elected them. Worse still, we live in a country where we allow politicians to lose focus from service to the people to become the leviathan. We are not saying that additional states creation may not be necessary, but looking at the time and the happenstance, this current move is diversionary given the mounting challenges that are before the country. Must we even talk about additional states, or restructure the country which most Nigerians want? Government should not bite more than it can chew. The intentions of those championing the cause for additional 31 states should be thoroughly examined, but for us, it’s high time our leaders stop playing to the gallery and face the reality of things on ground.
…On the Third-Party Insurance
The current move by government to ensure that vehicle owners at least, have third party insurance is a welcome development. This law has been there since time immemorial, but the manner and approach it’s being implemented are what is raising issues among the people. We understand the good intentions of government by enforcing this law, but we frown at a situation where police officers would engage hapless citizens in a scuffle like the one that involved yet to be identified police officer and a pregnant woman. Impounding peoples’ vehicles without warning should not be the way to go.
We envision a situation where people should be given ample time, enough for them to regularise their vehicle documents. Currently, Nigerians are paying multiple levies such that people can no longer breathe, contrary to President Tinubu’s mantra, ‘Allow the poor to breathe’. We call on the government to be circumspect in enforcing third party insurance policy. The insurance companies should be more concerned, and not non-revenue generating agency of government like the police. There should be complete separation of police work from revenue generation which appears to be the case here.
