“How judicious resources are utilised should matter most “
Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, yesterday declared that corruption, not the absence of true federalism, is the country’s major problem.
Shettima, gave his opinion as the Keynote speaker at the 17th Edition of the Leadership Annual Conference and Award, held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.
The VP also listed the mismanagement of the country’s resources as another factor that has retarded the nation’s progress over the years.
He faulted those who believe the nation’s federalism is not working, saying there is no perfect federalism worldwide.
Senator Shettima, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event attended by top industry and political players as well as foreign diplomats, cautioned against the temptation of romanticising foreign systems or prescribing imported solutions that fail to account for the country’s distinct social, ethnic, and demographic complexities.
The VP who was represented by the Special Adviser to the President, Special Duties, Aliyu Modibbo Umar, said: “The problems we attribute to our federal system often stem from the poor management of what is already within our grasp, not from any inherent flaw in our constitutional architecture. The issue is not merely how much each federating unit accrues but how judiciously such resources are utilised.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, this administration, under the leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is confronting this challenge directly. We have chosen the path of reform. It is bold, often difficult, but necessary. One such step is our unflinching pursuit of Local Government autonomy, a vision we realise through the sanctity of due legal process.
“The recent Supreme Court pronouncements in favour of autonomy underscore our commitment to building a federal structure that works for the grassroots. This is how we make the federation functional: by bringing governance closer to the people.
“To those who argue that Nigeria’s federalism is fundamentally flawed because of its fiscal nature, I urge caution. Federalism, as practised around the world, is not a one-size-fits-all system. There is no universal template. Each country’s federal arrangement is shaped by its history, culture, and political experience.
“In Canada, for instance, federalism emerged as a compromise between linguistic groups. In Germany, the structure was initially so decentralised that consensus from all 16 Länder was required to pass national policies until reforms in 2006 shifted powers for greater efficiency. Spain, despite its fiscal concessions to regions like the Basque Country and Navarre, still contends with separatist agitations.
