In the absence of True federalism, corruption remains Nigeria's foremost challenge." VP Shettima

On Tuesday, Nigeria's Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, took center stage as the keynote speaker at the 17th Edition of the Leadership Annual Conference and Award held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja. In a candid address, he emphasized a critical truth about the nation's most pressing issues: corruption, rather than the absence of true federalism, remains Nigeria's foremost challenge.

Senator Shettima pointed out that, in addition to corruption, the mismanagement of the country's resources has hampered progress over the years. He challenged the narrative that Nigeria's federalism is inherently flawed, arguing that no federal system in the world is without its imperfections. Instead, he suggested that the problems often attributed to Nigeria’s federal structure stem from poor management, not an architectural flaw in the Constitution.

Delivering his speech through Aliyu Modibbo Umar, the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Shettima stressed the importance of wisely utilizing existing resources rather than fixating on how much each federating unit receives. "The issue is not merely how much each federating unit accrues, but how judiciously such resources are utilized," he stated.

In his remarks, the Vice President also addressed the romanticization of foreign systems and the pitfalls of imposing imported solutions on a nation with unique social, ethnic, and demographic complexities. He noted that the current administration, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is committed to confronting these challenges head-on through bold reforms.

One such reform is the push for local government autonomy, guided by the principles of due legal process. The recent pronouncements by the Supreme Court in favor of this autonomy reflect the administration's dedication to building a federal structure that effectively serves the grassroots, bringing governance closer to the people.

Senator Shettima urged caution to those who criticize Nigeria's federalism based solely on its fiscal characteristics. He noted that federalism is not a one-size-fits-all system; each country's federal arrangement is deeply influenced by its unique history, culture, and political landscape. For instance, Canada's federalism was born from a compromise between various linguistic groups, while Germany's initially decentralized system required consensus from all 16 Länder for national policies, until reforms in 2006 streamlined the process. Similarly, Spain balances fiscal concessions for regions like the Basque Country with the ongoing challenge of separatist movements.