Seyi Makinde and His Case for True Federal Arrangement in His RESET Agenda 

Governor Seyi Makinde has raised serious and critical questions about the structure of governance in Nigeria with his recent declaration and the policy direction emerging from his 4-point RESET Nigeria agenda. As expected of him, he is opening an important national conversation about the kind of federation Nigeria should have.

Just as some of us have been championing, the Governor’s experience at the sub-national level is needed and qualifies him for national governance. Hence, the Nigerian people should give him a chance to translate his economic and executive expertise to national development. And, for those of us who have followed his arguments on restructuring and federalism which is something that resonates with us because we share the same belief, the Governor’s position is not entirely new. However, the only difference is that these ideas are being presented as part of a national political programme of a Presidential candidate which gives him an edge when put side-by-side with President Tinubu.

Governor Seyi Makinde has raised a serious question which deserves serious and critical engagement by every politically-inclined Nigerian. Indeed, we need to probe and understand how federal our federalism is. Just as some of us have always said, we cannot talk about diversification of the economy while we still maintain a governance structure wherein States possess enormous natural and human resources but remains heavily dependent on allocations from the federal government.

Governor Seyi Makinde’s idea of federalism is to ensure that the system in which States look towards Abuja for the resources required to pay salaries, fund recurrent expenditure and execute development projects is dismantled. It is important to state that Governor Seyi Makinde is not making this statement for political convenience. It is on record that, in 2021, the Governor had argued that the “concentration of control over natural resources at the federal level leaves States dependent on Federation Account allocations and limits their capacity to indepently develop their resource base”.

The Governor, just as some of us have raised, is taking the bull by its horn, with his decision to contest for the country’s topmost seat. The Governor is not just raising a conversation about the importance of true federalism but he is showing preparedness to turn the country around because a genuine federal arrangement should not merely distribute monthly allocations from Abuja but should clearly define responsibilities, corresponding fiscal powers and accountability at each level of government. It is really pathetic that States do not have sufficient authority and resources to pursue development strategies suited to their economic circumstances. Meanwhile, this is what Governor Seyi Makinde intends to change and RESET the country from this warped federalism.

Governor Seyi Makinde, had, few weeks ago, cautioned Nigerians that instead of reducing conversation around local government autonomy to dependency on transfers, Nigerians should be focused on working towards ensuring that local government administration becomes genuinely resilient. With Governor Seyi Makinde’s agenda on federalism, Nigerians have been made to understand that local government autonomy should not simply mean taking money directly from Abuja but having clearly defined responsibilities, predictable revenues, functional institutions and mechanisms through which citizens can hold local officials accountable.

The conversation Governor Seyi Makinde is raising on natural resources is for us to understand and familiarise ourselves with the importance of States having greater control over the resources within their territories which include the ability to attract investment and develop those resources. And, this is important and necessary when it comes to witnessing economic growth.

With the arrangement Governor Seyi Makinde is proposing, States with substantial agricultural potential will be able to develop agricultural value chains without excessive dependence on federal intervention which has left many States handicapped and at the mercy of the federal government. It is unfortunate that States endowed with enormous solid minerals cannot participate meaningfully in their exploitation and processing. But, with Governor Seyi Makinde’s RESET agenda, States will be able to compete to attract investment, develop infrastructure and create employment and therefore change the relationship between the centre and the federation units.

It is hoped that Nigerians will embrace the RESET agenda of Governor Seyi Makinde which presents him as someone who is not just promising development but rethinking the architecture through which development is delivered.

Kazeem Olalekan Israel (GANI), member of GSM Advocates writes from Ibadan, Nigeria.