Restructure Nigeria before 2027 – Jega tasks FG

Attahiru Jega, a former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has urged the Federal Government to restructure the country before 2027.

Jega also stated that Nigeria would be considered a failed state if it did not provide for its citizens’ security, welfare, and basic needs.

The former INEC boss made this known on Friday while delivering a lecture – ‘Safeguarding Nigeria’s Future: Prioritizing Citizen’s Welfare and Security Amidst Challenges’ – at the maiden convocation of the Bauchi State University, Gadau.

“The profound challenges, which currently bedevil Nigeria can be said to be structural, systemic and also related to value orientation.

“Before 2027, some restructuring of the Nigerian Federation should be embarked upon through evidence-based constitutional reforms, the objectives of which should be to deconcentrate powers and resources from the federal tier and to spread them to those of the state and local governments,” he said.

Jega also recommended the amendment of the Electoral Act to address the systemic and governance challenges in the country, while adding that there was no need to create additional states.

He instead suggested that decentralizing resources would reduce the cost of governance.