Shehu Sani’s bomb: Nigeria needs only 6 states, 6 governors without pensions
- With the current economic situation of the country, many Nigerians are suggesting possible solutions
- Shehu Sani, a senator from Kaduna state, is giving a suggestion that could turn controversial in the coming days
Outspoken Senator Shehu Sani from Kaduna state has vehemently rejected the current federal structure practiced in Nigeria.
Shehu Sani says Nigeria should have only six states and one National Assembly chamber
According to him, Nigeria does not need more than six states, six Houses of Assembly and just one chamber National Assembly.
Some states in the country have been termed not viable while 33 states are so far owing workers up to seven months in salaries and other entitlements.
He also said governors must be stopped from collecting pensions upon the expiration of their terms.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Curfew imposed on southern Kaduna as killings persist
Sani said the current federal structure had not only made political leaders lazy, it has also made them look like beggars while opening opportunities for corruption by those in authority.
In an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, the senator said: “I think what this fake federalism has been able to do is the fact people simply sit down, do nothing and get money at the end of the month and either steal it or engage in funny projects.
“This is what I call ‘cap-in-hand federalism’ or sharing formula federalism. This is all that has become of Nigeria today. Nigeria doesn’t need more than six states.
“The geopolitical zones should be turned into states. And they should cut down all the 36 state assemblies to six. Then we should have one chamber of the National Assembly, not two. And all sections of the country should be able to generate resources which will be able to take care of their own people.
“However, there is nothing wrong with those that are better off to also remit to the centre. And we will see who wants to be governor and who wants to be a senator.”
He lamented a situation where the focus is for everyone to turn attention to the centre for handouts.
“In fact, we are just living in a unitary state because everybody is coming to collect money from Abuja and go back to their towns to share. So when you have this, you don’t have any serious federalism.
"What this kind of structure encourages is laziness. It encourages people to be dependants and not innovative and creative.
“It has encouraged a culture of patronage, of dependency and bankruptcy of ideas. And that is why people depend more on federal allocation.
READ ALSO: El-Rufai, Sani yet to fulfill promise to 10-year-old 12 months after ordeal
“People become big men of federal allocation, because at the end of the month they know that money is coming to them, even without working for it.
“This is the situation of Nigeria now and it ought not to be so. I equally believe that legislators should be paid part-time for their sitting. They should go as there is no need for salary.
“The general public should also be made to understand that the legislature is there simply to make laws and not there to provide any services to anybody. This is the best way in the best interest of the country,” he added.
To him, governors should have no pension as everybody should have a job to do.
“Equally, we should be very vigilant and prudent in terms of the way we handle resources.
“However, every geopolitical zone should be able to produce and export and (on a quarterly basis), we would now put into consideration what you have actually brought to the table.
“We should have a nation where you think not of what you collect from the table but think of what you can bring to the table,” he added.
Comments
Post a Comment