TheCable

Abdulhameed Ujo, a professor of political science at the University of Abuja, says the devolution of power to states would cripple the federal government and its institutions.

Ujo said this in an interview with NAN.

He said the rejection of the bill on power devolution by the national assembly was “a step in exigency’’ to protect the federal government as well as its institutions from imminent collapse.

The professor said the “logical and technical approach” adopted during the voting was necessary, considering the number of institutions and financial commitments of the federal government.

“I have a feeling that the voting was done in consideration of the fact that the national assembly is in the constituency of the federal government,” he said.

“Half of the federal institutions will close down because I have a feeling that the federal government will be given peanuts if states are given powers over resources.

“The implication is that while the oil producing states will be ‘flowing’ with money, the federal government that has enormous financial responsibilities will be stranded.”

Ujo, however, called on the federal government to initiate programmes and policies to improve on resource allocation to oil-producing states “in the interest of peace and fairness”.

“The agitation by the oil-producing states is resources and I am of the opinion that the current 13 percent derivation be increased to ameliorate the situation,” he said.

The national assembly had voted against the bill on power devolution during its recent voting on constitutional amendments.

Although, Bukola Saraki, senate president, later said the bill may still scale through.