BY Jemilat Nasiru
Vice-president Yemi Osinbajo says good governance is what Nigeria needs to put an end to its socio-economic challenges.
Osinbajo said this on Monday while delivering the 40th anniversary lecture of the Association of Friends in Lagos.
Speaking on the theme “Restructuring and the Nigerian Federation”, the vice-president said stronger state governments, not geographical restructuring, is what Nigeria needs.
He added that he has always been an advocate of fiscal federalism and state police.
“I have been an advocate, both in court and outside, of fiscal federalism and stronger state governments,” Osinbajo said.
“I have argued in favour of state police, for the simple reason that policing is a local function. You simply cannot effectively police Nigeria from Abuja; only recently, I made a point that stronger, more autonomous states would effectively eradicate poverty.
“So, I do not believe that geographical restructuring is an answer to Nigeria’s socio-economic circumstances.
“That would only result in greater administrative costs; but there can be no doubt that we need deeper fiscal federalism and good governance.”
In September, Osinbajo and Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were locked in an exchange on the issue of restructuring.
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