posted November 9, 2023
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said with the current abysmal drift in national development, he believes the Federal Government of Nigeria is facing economic challenges and growing weaker in its capacity to address them effectively. He is advocating for a renegotiation of the relationship between the central government and the states to find solutions to these economic woes.
Obaseki’s statement reflects the ongoing national conversation regarding the distribution of power and resources between the federal and state governments. It is important to note that Nigeria operates a federal system of government, and there have been discussions and disagreements over the allocation of resources and responsibilities between the two levels of government.
The governor said this when he received 21 first-class graduates who were recently employed into the civil and public service in the State, at the Government House in Benin City, the State capital.
Governor Obaseki’s call for renegotiation indicates a desire for greater fiscal autonomy for the states, as well as a reevaluation of how resources are shared among them. This is not an isolated issue in Nigeria, as several states have raised concerns about their ability to fund their activities and provide services to their citizens due to economic challenges and what they perceive as an unfair distribution of resources.
Speaking to the new workers, the governor said: “The central government is becoming weaker as it doesn’t have the resources to undertake the responsibility it ought to take according to the constitution and this will lead to a renegotiation. The system is not sustainable but yet I don’t see Nigeria disintegrating.”
Obaseki continued: “We need to invite young people to deal with the situation and set the nation on the right path, threading on the path that aligns with global development. We have set ourselves as a State on the path of development. We have embraced paperless governance, connected all our local governments to fiber optic internet and built infrastructure. With young minds like yours, we will take the world.
“It’s a new world for you, young minds and running away from Nigeria will not solve the problem and the reasons why people are running away can be addressed by people like you. All we need to do is to create the opportunity, preparing you for leadership or having leaders like you to help check these challenges.”
It’s worth mentioning that the relationship between the federal government and states in Nigeria is an ongoing and complex issue that involves political, economic, and constitutional considerations. Any potential renegotiation would require careful planning, negotiation, and consensus-building among the various stakeholders in the Nigerian federation.