Any Nigerian with a rational and open mind knows that the complexity of governance in Nigeria today is rooted in the country’s political system, which, by any stretch of imagination and logic, is unsuitable for a heterogeneous society like Nigeria with over 250 ethnic groups that are characterised by incompatible cultures, varied history, background and interests.  

These ethnic groups were hitherto independent nations that ceded their sovereignty to the Nigerian state under federalism, a political system that took cognizance of their peculiarities and agreed upon by the country’s founding fathers.  But ever since this system was subverted and replaced with a unitary state structure, Nigeria has been embroiled with unending suspicion, distrust, disunity, disharmony, nepotism, hegemony and rivalry among the various ethnic nationalities, indicative of its inappropriateness.  

The unsuitability of the unitary state structure, inequitable revenue sharing method, breach of the country’s secularity status, dishonest quota system and political location of industries are major national contradictions undermining Nigeria’s potentials.  Except for hiding under cover of pretence, it is common knowledge that Nigeria’s progress is held down by these national paradoxes. 

They are aberrations and drawbacks that are fundamentally responsible for the country’s stunted growth.  These are what President Bola Tinubu must address in 2024 to set the tone for an equitable and prosperous Nigeria.  

Efforts outside this trajectory amount to a sheer cosmetic administrative routine and a waste of valuable resources incapable of restoring hope.  The unitary system of government has become a Frankenstein monster that is pushing the country towards the precipice with diminished national and global stature. Until a more suitable political template is introduced, Nigeria will continue to drift in circles like a regional giant with no illuminating potential to inspire public confidence.  

Federalism had been tested in Nigeria, and it worked.  It is a system of government where all federating states and central government are financially independent, autonomous, interdependent and co-equal, with neither the federal government nor the states inferior to each other.  This is the political system that best suits the country’s cultural diversity and sociological complexities, capable of achieving equity, justice and balance.  

In a plural society like Nigeria, the unitary system is a misfit, lacking the capacity to promote unity.  It engenders acrimony, disaffection, nepotism, primordial nationalism and marginalisation owing to conflicting cultural aspirations.  The emergence of separatist movements and other related self-determination groups are some of the challenges facing Nigeria today, justifying the need for federalism to stem the tide.  Otherwise, the country risks more ethnic nationalities surfacing to seek autonomy.

With about 68 items on the exclusive list and 12 items on the concurrent list, the 1999 Constitution is, in structure, content and spirit, a unitary constitution, where the destiny of the states and people are determined and centrally regulated, using revenue allocation as a tool for coercion and subservient corporatism.  This Constitution has failed Nigerians.  The states or geo-political zones want an independent hold of their future within the context of their distinct cultural aspirations.

As a way out, the concept of the 1963 Constitution should be invoked to allow states to take control of mineral deposits found in their domains.  In other words, fiscal federalism with a derivation principle allowing retention of a 50 per cent minimum of accrued revenue found in or generated by the states should be introduced.  

All states and geo-political areas in Nigeria are evidently endowed, as God has provided every habitat with natural resources, including agricultural crops for subsistence.  This will not only give states the necessary financial autonomy but will encourage them to harness and optimise their potential, just as it will encourage hard work, healthy competition, and discourage indolence.

The government’s involvement in religion is also a national contradiction and aberration.  Nigeria is a secular state as affirmed by Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution, which says that the Government of the federation or of a state shall not adopt any religion as state religion in Nigeria.  However, the federal government’s behavioural disposition undermines this clause when viewed against the backdrop of its contribution and participation in religious matters.  

By establishing the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) to oversee and facilitate the process for participation of Muslims in Hajj or Umra in Saudi Arabia and the pilgrimage of Christians to Jerusalem and other holy sites, the federal government has adopted Islam and Christianity as official religions, contrary to the intention of secularism.     

Deception of Nigeria’s secularity status is further exposed by Nigeria’s membership of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a religious body representing “the collective voice of the Muslim world” and working “to safeguard the interests and ensure the progress and well-being of Muslims.”  Nigeria’s membership is a tacit endorsement of the country as an Islamic state, as depicted by its commitment to dues obligation.  

Religion is a personal affair, and individuals are at liberty to practice their faith as deemed appropriate, as long as it does not violate the rights of others.  The huge amount expended by the federal government annually to fund NAHCON and NCPC, as well as meeting financial obligations in OIC, is an infringement on the right of Nigerians whose taxes are used to service these private interests.  

After all, the government’s involvement in religion has not reduced moral decadence in Nigeria, as most beneficiaries of these pilgrimages to Hajj and Jerusalem are involved in corruption that has contributed to the country’s woes.  Rather than waste the country’s resources on these unprofitable ventures, such money should be used to shore up decaying infrastructure across the country.  

President Tinubu should therefore dissolve NAHCON and NCPC, and remove Nigeria from membership of OIC, as part of strategies to maintain the secularity of Nigeria.  Any state government whosoever desires to fund its citizens to holy sites is free to do so at its own expense.  The federal government must hands off religion to save taxpayers’ money.  

The quota system is another national contradiction.  It is part of Nigeria’s problems and a source of bureaucratic ineptitude that should be discarded for excellence.  This system has been consistently abused and manipulated by government officials to serve primordial and entrenched interests.  The system has also deprived millions of brilliant Nigerians of opportunities to serve their fatherland on account of their states of origin.   

When merit is sacrificed on the altar of representation, what you have is incompetence and failure.  Nigeria is currently paying the price of poor performance in government owing to quota application in the recruitment process in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).  The outcome has been inefficiency and poor delivery output with no value addition.  

Sadly, the quota system is applicable to the educational sector, which is supposed to be the substratum of research and development.  Unqualified students are admitted into federal unity schools and universities, while brilliant ones are unable to secure placements.  In some cases, the appointment of professors and the award of PhD degrees are based on the quota system, leading to the production of quota scholars lacking the capacity for research and discovery.  What an irony for a country that is striving to compete in global affairs! 

The quota system is a recipe for failure and poor performance.  It is not applicable in the private sector because of these gaps.  This may have also informed why the powers that be have deliberately refused to introduce the system in the selection of players for the national team, the Super Eagles.  They know that if the obnoxious quota is applied, the performance of the Super Eagles will be an outright tragedy for the country.  

Another national contradiction is the political location of industries.  Oil and gas companies involved in the exploration of crude oil in the Niger Delta should be compelled to relocate their administrative headquarters to areas where they have a minimum of 70 per cent of their operations.  

This will not only accelerate the development of the region but will help resolve current poverty and frustration resulting from negligence and degradation in the region.  The Nigeria LNG Limited, which moved its administrative headquarters from Lagos to Bonny Island, Rivers State, where its operational base is located, is enjoying support from its host communities.  The company should be commended and emulated. 

Therefore, to reset, reshape and reposition Nigeria for a stronger brand identity aimed at maximising its full potential to achieve national progress, regional influence and global respect, President Bola Tinubu must address and nip these national contradictions in the bud by next year, 2024.  

Michael Owhoko, PhD, is a Lagos-based journalist and author. Reach him at www.mikeowhoko.com.