Nigeria is again, caught in a deep and troubling state of affairs, spanning a thick judicial tussle; a severe crisis of cost of living, violent forms of accumulation such as violent extraction of oil and solid minerals, extremes of domestic violence particularly against women and children, dreadful income gap, abject neglect of pensioners and, above all, the unproductive flamboyance of political office holders to everyone’s face.
Naturally, it is the Nigerian Political Science (NPSA) that should come out with a set of options for the government in the face of the amalgam of confusing manifestations of decay. This is more so that even those who should engage the Nigerian State on plausible ways of negotiating the stalemate have withdrawn into their small cubicles, most of them because of their moral, ideological or partisan reservations about the peopling of the Federal Government.
Although the state is run by people at any point in time, the state and the people who run it are different entities. In this context, the Nigerian Political Science (NPSA) and its funders are setting an exemplary standard. And, in solidarity with the NPSA, Intervention is publishing its “Agenda Setting for the Nigerian President” in full although that is also partly because of the difficulty of editing the text without injuring it as a document for the records. Read on – Intervention
Organisers of the Series
COMMUNIQUE OF THE MEETING OF THE NIGERIAN POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION ON AGENDA SETTING FOR NIGERIAN PRESIDENT HELD AT HOTELROSEBUD ABUJA ON 5TH JUNE 2023 Preamble The Nigerian Political Science Association, NPSA, with support from CISLAC, convened a meeting at Rosebud Hotel, Abuja on 5th June, 2023 to review urgent national issues and came up with suggestions on how to address them under the current government at the federal level. It had in attendance, Professor Ayo Dunmoye, who chaired the meeting, Professors Rufai Alkali, Victor Adetula, Robert Dode, Ikenna Alumona, Sheriff Ghazali, Gani Yoroms, Ms. Julie Sanda, the representative of CISLAC and others. At the first session of the meeting, two of the papers presented during our online programme that preceded the meeting on “Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations” and “Promoting National Unity and Cohesion’’ were reviewed. During the afternoon session, two other presentations on “Strengthening Democracy and Making it Work for all Nigerians’’ and “Nurturing a Robust Government-Citizen Relationship” were equally reviewed at the meeting. After launch, the two remaining papers on “Insecurity and Secessionist Movements” and “Nigeria’s External Relations” presented during the NPSA online conversations on agenda setting for the president were also examined. In harmonising all the views, opinions and observations contained in the aforementioned papers, the NPSA came up with a number of observations, recommendations and implementation strategies for His Excellency, the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Observations and Recommendations
Thrust of Governance
(1). In the past few years, Nigerians have passed through very difficult periods of Corona Virus pandemic, Currency Swap introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), hyper inflation, unemployment, high poverty level and others. The effect of all the developments, in our view, are still being felt in the country, coupled with the recent removal of fuel subsidy on PMS. All these, no doubt, have piled up financial pressures on Nigerians. The Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA) is of the view that the thrust of governance must seriously consider the need to rebuild confidence in the Nigerian nation and strengthen the fabric of nationhood through running an open, inclusive, and transparent system of governance that combines competent technocrats with seasoned politicians who are of proven integrity. There is an urgent need to come up with action plans in addressing the inevitable impacts of all these developments on Nigerians for the urgent task of re-positioning their country.
(2). The NPSA believes that the country’s affairs should be conducted in ways that reflect the spirit and letter of the Nigerian Constitution, which provides for a President that emerges from an election that takes the whole country as one constituency. This undoubtedly would create the image and the desired atmosphere of a National Leader for the president with enormous courage and political will to implement programmes on the future of far-reaching decisions, policies, and programmes on the future of Nigeria. It is important to stress the point that the confidence of the citizens in the Nigerian nation is at all times low and only fairness, equity and justice can give new hope to hapless Nigerians.
Inter-Governmental Relations
(3). The NPSA believes that there is an urgent need for the Federal Government to review the inter-governmental relations system for effective governance at all levels. It is our considered view that at present, virtually all the functions and operational activities of all the 774 Local Government Councils in the country have been emasculated, thereby making them ineffective and in some cases, redundant in the management of local affairs. As the third tier of government, out to provide essential services to the rural populations, this needs to be urgently reversed. So far, the current system of Joint Accounts existing between Local Government Councils and State Governments has not worked optimally. The NPSA is therefore in full support of a policy that allows Local Government Councils to receive their Federation Allocations direct from the first line charge.
National Security and Defence
(4). After reviewing the state of the nation, the Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA) recognised that the popular notion of national security and defence that focuses mainly on big boots and kinetics would only serve short-term goals. However, to address the medium and long terms issues, there is an urgent need to approach the management of security matters from a more holistic and comprehensive perspective by putting greater emphasis on proactive strategies to prevent where possible, and contain where inevitable, emerging security challenges in the country.
(5). This underscores the need for and the essence of human security and a security strategy that transcends the military approach to include focusing on the critical issues at the base of national development. These issues include but not limited to: education at all levels; basic health care services; housing and roads infrastructure; equity and equality among all social groups; human rights; combating poverty at all levels; and effective environmental management.
(6). Our Association is of the view that while the use of kinetic power remains inevitable in the war against insurgency and other non-state actors, there is also an urgent need to re-examine the living conditions of Nigerians, especially the rural poor, urban unemployed, students and senior citizens who have served out their civil service careers and have retired, living on meagre and irregular pension benefits. In our view, all of them have unfortunately exposed many Nigerians to crimes and corruption.
(7). Nigeria’s national security strategy needs to incorporate effective management of Nigeria’s natural resources such as land and forest resources to guarantee sustainability and reduce resource-related conflicts. Effective control and management of Nigeria’s borders against trans-human activities that tend to exacerbate and escalate armed banditry is urgently required to reduce the sources of internal and external threats to national security.
Reconciliation, National Unity and Integration
(8). The NPSA is concerned that some secessionist movements, terrorists and bandits have continued to engage the Nigerian State in a battle of control over space. This is a manifestation of the state of insecurity in the country. Accordingly, one of the strategic approaches that we are putting on the table in de-escalating tensions in the country is to engage in meaningful dialogue and negotiations with all the groups that have taken up arms against the State with a view to reconciling, integrating and accommodating them in the development agenda of the country. In the long term, the president should prioritize restructuring of the Nigerian federation through constitutional means and administrative procedures in the short term to promote equity and justice in power sharing and distribution of national resources that have been the issues in the agitations.
(9). While dialogue and negotiations continue with all the groups that are willing to negotiate, the Federal Government should strengthen the capacity of the military and other security agencies and pay adequate attention to effective coordination of all the security agencies towards improved internal security. Already, the presidency has voiced some concerns about inter-agency rivalry and competition for supremacy. We totally agree with the presidency that this is indeed unhealthy and unhelpful. The primary role of the Police in the maintenance of internal security needs to be more appreciated.
(10). The security agencies must work as members of the same family and make deliberate and conscious efforts to secure and share timely intelligence for effective operations. The overall objective is to keep Nigeria and Nigerians safe from both internal and external threats.
(11). As Nigeria consolidates on its democratic governance, it is timely for the Federal Government to put in place mechanisms for effective military subordination to civilian authorities and this should be done to improve civil-military relations.
Strengthening Democratic Institutions and Processes
(12). The NPSA has observed that the future of democracy in Nigeria will be much brighter and even more robust if the country embarks on far-reaching reforms of its political and electoral processes. However, the reforms being envisaged should be made incrementally and conscientiously to facilitate and deepen democratic governance in the country.
(13). One of the areas that we think needs attention is the strengthening of the political party system to enable the parties to function as critical stakeholders in the Nigerian political system. Accordingly, there is a need to re-introduce the Office of the Special Adviser on Inter-Party Relations in the office of the president as was the practice in the past.
(14). The experience of the 2023 General Elections has shown that even though significant gains have been made in the electoral reforms, first in 2010 and more recently in the 2022 Electoral Act, a lot more needs to be done to strengthen the electoral system. The presidency should initiate this process and in collaboration with the National Assembly to address all the perceived gaps and loopholes in the electoral system.
High Cost of Governance
(15). Our Association is also deeply concerned about the rising cost of governance in Nigeria, which is extremely high, especially in comparative terms with other democracies both in and outside Africa. While the NPSA is fully aware that some of the issues involved might require amendments to the constitution, there are others on which immediate administrative steps can be taken to roll back the cost of governance in the country. The starting point is to re-examine the remuneration of all political office holders in order to cut down the cost of governance. We believe this is likely to be a difficult and unpopular policy but it is doable, especially if there is political will to do it.
(16). Another critical and related issue that has been agitating the minds of Nigerians is the issue of constituency projects. It is an accepted norm that the National Assembly members need to establish networks and retain the loyalties and support of their constituents but in reality, the direct involvement of the National Assembly members in securing and executing constituency projects is both unconstitutional and against the spirit of the principle of separation of powers under the Presidential System. Available research reports to NPSA have also indicated that these constituency projects have become conduit pipes for siphoning public resources. We therefore urge the president to work very closely with the leadership of the 10th National Assembly to bring this to an end or reduce the humongous amounts being spent on them.
(17). The NPSA is convinced that the judiciary is a leading arm of government under the Presidential System. Being the last hope of the common man, everything must be done to preserve and enhance the independence and impartiality of the judiciary. Unfortunately, we have observed that in recent times, the persons and the institution of the judiciary are being dragged into the political arena with unsavoury commentaries being run on the arm with respect to the high cost of obtaining justice in Nigeria, in the midst of some controversial judgments being delivered at times. This negative image of the judiciary should not be allowed to continue or degenerate. The president can engage with the leadership of the arm in finding ways of changing the narrative about the judicial arm. 18. While still respecting the principle of separation of powers, the president should engage the judiciary to support the courts to serve justice and fairness promptly and effectively. This is the only way that a firm regime of rule of law can be established and the hope, trust and confidence in the Judicial system restored among Nigerians.
Good Governance and Improved Service Delivery to Citizens
(19). Government should target effective performance as the key indicator of good governance and service delivery, redressing gaps in state-citizen relationships through good management, promoting citizens’ rights, and improving the government’s responsiveness towards building the trust of citizens in government.
(20). All Nigerians should have equal opportunities regardless of creed, region, or religion. Deliberate efforts must be made to enhance the effective mainstreaming of gender into democratic governance and encouraged at all levels of government. The effective participation of women, youth and people living with disabilities in all spheres of public life and in decision-making should be a cardinal principle of governance at all levels. The president can send new bills to the legislative houses or give consideration as he has done on some older bills that had been passed by the ninth National Assembly by sending them back to the tenth Assembly for fresh legislative processes.
Nigeria’s External Relations
(21). It is crucial to note that Nigerian foreign policy has a direct link to the domestic environment and therefore whatever happens at the international level has direct implications for the domestic political economy. Given the momentous global changes and developments, there is need to shift away from a reactive foreign policy to more proactive and reciprocal engagements and responses in the international system. This is one of the best ways Nigeria can reclaim its status as the leading nation in Africa. In other words, the Federal Government needs to encourage the deployment of effective diplomacy to meet the needs and aspirations of Nigerians.
(22). As the Government settles down, there would be the need to organize an Ambassadors’ Conference or All Nigerian Peoples Summit on Foreign Policy to consider and review Nigeria’s foreign policy goals, objectives and mechanisms for implementing them to reflect the new dynamics in the international system. One of the expected outcomes of such a Conference or Summit could address the need to balance economic[1]cum-security considerations with the hegemonic objective in the pursuit of a good neighbourliness policy for the Nigerian State.
(23). Nigeria should also put its feet firmly in the emerging BRICS alliance and not remain as an on-looker. In this regard, geopolitical realities at global and regional levels have made it even more compelling for Nigeria to adjust to the emerging New World Order. It is therefore obvious that Nigeria must join BRICS and demonstrate active interest and participation in the African Union, ECOWAS and the Africa Free Trade Area for it to be seen in the mainstream international relations and cash in on the gains that go with it.
(24). While we appreciate the concerns that have been expressed about the means-ends analysis with respect to foreign policy, the NPSA argues that the virtual disappearance of Nigeria in some major strategic global affairs is a sad reality. This unfortunate turn of events needs to be reversed in view of its past investments in the world and its strategic position in Africa. Our view is that the unfortunate situation can be ameliorated by setting up a committee to review Nigeria’s position in the world, its interests and the means of achieving its aspirations in the global system.
(25). We argue that accepting the foregoing recommendation would resolve a lot of irritations about contemporary Nigerian foreign policy. For instance, the age-long complaint about the low level of funding the foreign policy can be impacted upon through the revelations that will be made by the committee. We are not surprised that the nation has receded in its international engagements due to its less than one per cent being budgeted for its foreign policy. Meanwhile, we canvass for about five per cent of the national budget to be devoted to the country’s foreign policy in the first instance. Your Excellency needs not to be persuaded by the position of the compatriots who have argued for a further reduction in the level of Nigeria’s global visibility due to poor economy at home. The immense benefits of a focused and targeted international engagement for Nigeria are far greater than what people generally assume they are.
Prof. Hassan A. Saliu President, NPSA
