Democracy Day: NGO tasks FG on fiscal federalism

NAN-H-10
Federalism
Warri (Delta), May 28, 2017 (NAN) An NGO, Centre for  the Vulnerable and the Underprivileged (Centrep), has urged the Federal Government to consider the restructuring of  the  country’s federal  system in order to tackle the country’s  challenges.
The Executive Director of  Centrep, Mr Oghenejabor Ikimi, made the call in a statement on Sunday in Warri.
Ikimi said  restructuring  would help to fast track the development of  the country.
He said that Nigeria as an independent nation was built on a federal system of government where component states are  made to be subservient to a central government.
The founder of the Warri-based NGO  said that as long as the government at the centre  was stronger than the federating states, the country would continue to witness  challenges.
“The only solution to our present political, economic and social challenges as an independent nation is the observance of true fiscal federalism.
“So, as Nigeria celebrates Democracy Day, we join other well- meaning Nigerians to call for the true restructuring of our nation into six regions.
“The regions will be in line with our six geo-political regions, with each region made to control her own resources and contribute a token to the central government.
“It will allow each region to develop at its own pace.
“It also encourages  healthy competition among the regions and that will in turn boost the growth and development of our nation as  a true giant of Africa,” he said. (NAN)
EDI/CIA/OJO
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(Edited by Cecilia Ologunagba/Mufutau Ojo)