Professor of Comparative Politics and Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Eghosa Osaghae, has blamed states government for the many sufferings, marginalisation felt by Nigerians across several regions in the country due to their dysfunctionality.
Citing the example of the Independent People of the Biafra, IPOB, Osaghae said he always wondered why the ‘marginalisation’ which as perceived by agitators means lack of social welfare service excludes their respective state governments and local governments which claim 52% of our Nigeria’s public expenditure.
He made the remarks while speaking at the 2017 edition of The Platform, held at Covenant Christian Centre, a nation and governance building program, where he spoke on the topic “Restructuring is federalism, federalism is restructuring”.
He added, “52% of our public expenditure is by state and local government, but with little or nothing to show for it. State Government need to be more active in the restructuring process. They must do things that will reduce their dysfunctionality…Many of the things we’re asking for restructuring for can be handled by better Governance esp at State level.”
Osaghae noted that region centred federal trajectory won’t help us as a country, saying we need to have a nation centred trajectory.
He urged Nigerians to do more in also beaming their searchlight on State governments. Let the accountability begin from there
“Let the accountability begin from there, State Governors tell us they don’t have money but who is stopping them from innovating ways of raising money?