SAN FRANCISCO, September 24, (THEWILL) – National leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has stated that true federalism will correct the country’s power imbalance between the roles of the federal and state governments which he said is the root of the country’s difficulties.
Tinubu, a former Governor of Lagos state, made this known in an address presented on his behalf, on Saturday, by one-time Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Wale Edun, at the 2017 Annual Dinner of the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) in Lagos.
He explained that true federalism denotes a division of labour between the Federal and State governments that functions to maximise the benefits of governance to the people where the Federal Government focuses on those few but essential things that only it can provide such as foreign policy, defence, and national economic policy.
He called for the re-calibration of the revenue sharing formula in order to bring more funds to state and local governments so that they can take care of their enlarged responsibilities insisting that the federal government has no right to withhold funds that constitutionally belong to the states adding that the fear of possible misuse of funds is no reason to violate the constitution.
“The imbalance between the roles of the federal and state governments lies at the root of our difficulties. We need to re-balance the duties of the federal and state governments. The quest to correct the imbalance is the essence of federalism that I have advocated for so many years,” he said
“Due to our particular political history and its military legacy, the quality of our federalism and the quality of our democracy are intertwined. The more we repair federalism, the more we improve democracy.
“In my mind, federalism denotes a division of labour between the federal and state governments that functions to maximise the benefits of governance to the people. True federalism is that brand which provides that the federal government should focus on those few but essential things only it can provide such as foreign policy, defence, and national economic policy.
“All other matters should be left to the states. If there is doubt over a particular issue, the presumption should be that the states, not the federal government, should take the lead.
“Here, I say to those so eager to dispense with federalism in favour of more rash and impractical remedies, let us first truly practice federalism before we deem it a failure. If given but a fair chance, we just might perfect federalism by making it work for the benefit of all of us.
“Money that is owed the states belongs to the states. We all support propriety of expenditure. The sentiment behind the withholding is understandable if not laudable. But the federal government has no right to withhold funds that constitutionally belong to the states. The fear of possible misuse of funds is no reason to violate the constitution.
“Provide the funds to the states as legally required. Committed and fine governors will use the funds wisely. And the people will be better off. As to those who squander the money, there are appropriate ways to expose and sanction them. This is where the federal government can appropriately step in. However, to withhold the funds, no matter how well intended, is to undermine federalism and the rule of law. It will have adverse long-time consequences; as such, it is too high a price to pay.
“Whether we decide to focus attention on steel, textiles, cars, machinery components, or other items, we must focus on manufacturing things that Nigerians and the rest of the world value and want to buy.
“We need a national infrastructure plan. Roads, ports, bridges and railways need enhancing and new ones need to be built, the goal must be a coherently-planned and integrated infrastructural grid. A national economy cannot grow beyond the capacity of the infrastructure that serves it.
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