Tinubu’ s approach to restructuring Nigeria

IT is yet nebulous, formless, what President Tinubu said - on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, during his visit to Akure, the Ondo State capital - to the leader of the Yoruba socio- cultural organisation, Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fashoranti, that a proper solid foundation would be laid before restructuring the country to a true federation.

It appears contradictory, or is at least unclear, this explanation made by President Tinubu that a proper foundation would involve achieving prior successful economic and fiscal reforms capable of supporting a restructured, true federation of Nigeria. The exact meaning or the details of what the President said, as foregoing, is sufficiently known to or understood by the President alone.

Attempt is currently being made by the President to establish a sort of state police. It is not yet made clear whether this would be done with or without amendment to the constitution. The President has recently, this March expressed his intention to get land from the state governments, for the federal government to establish animal agriculture farms or settlements. Whatever may be the plan of the President, as regards restructuring to a true federation, it is only reasonable to contemplate what would be accordingly achieved by the President, before the 2027 general elections. It is sure, agitations for true federalism, restructuring, would be increasingly amplified, with effusion of time. The agitators would come, more and more, to regard, wrongfully or rightfully, the President as being merely evasive on the all important matter of restructuring the country into a true federation. More and deeper thoughts, by the President and all, would have to be given to this matter of true federalism for the country. The issues of mass unemployment, pavasive extreme poverty, minimum wage crisis, running inflation, overdependence on exportation of crude oil and gas, gross infrastructure deficits, importation of diverse types of goods and services, bubbling illiteracy culture, etc, cannot be successfully addressed without crucial, innovative amendments - immediately made - to the 1999 constitution as yet amended.

The minimum wage crisis would continually reemerge in Nigeria until we have a true federation of Nigeria. The labour union is asking for Nine Hundred and Seven Thousand Naira ( N 907, 000 . 00), while the government has not yet decided on a clear amount, as the proposed minimum wage .

What do we expect by the end of June, this year, three months from now, March 17; on the value of the dollar to the naira? Will the value come down to N1,000.00, by then? What do we expect by then, to be the pump price of petroleum fuel? N620.00 or N400.00.

Would the government spend the possible loan of between twenty to thirty billion dollars well, if taken from the International Financial Institutions, IMF and the World Bank?

Although we cannot restructure prompt dully into a true federation, we must have a clear plan, and also progress on it, optimally. And, on the state of the economy, the government must formulate apt and circumspective measures, policies. And, it is very good that we have the type of President, as President Tinubu. He not only means we’ll, he understands that Nigeria is very difficult to govern, to develop; as a country that is complexly multi- ethnic, without, or with poor, industrial capabilities; of a population of over 200 million - mostly illiterate, mostly unemployed; of gross infrastructure deficits in most sectors of the economy; debt ridden and reliant on crude oil deposits for its foreign earnings for importation of all kinds of goods and services.

Overwhelming majority of Nigerians are currently suffering unbearably; such that three months appears to be a long time to get respite.

May God Almighty save Nigeria. Amen.