The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • Kudos to PBAT on LG autonomy

    Kudos to PBAT on LG autonomy

    Sir: The judgement of the Supreme Court on the financial autonomy for the local government administration in Nigeria is to me, the biggest achievement recorded by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration so far. The current hardship in the country would not have been this pronounced but for the virtual crippling of local governments which the nearest to the people by our state governors.

    President Tinubu has made strenuous efforts to revive Nigeria’s battered economy and the results of these are being felt in various sectors. Nonetheless, local government autonomy as pronounced by the Supreme Court signals a new dawn for grassroots development in Nigeria.

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    Since about two decades ago when the administration of former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, established joint account for the states and local governments, grassroots development has been put on hold as never before in the history of our dear nation. This is because local government has been tied to the apron-strings of the state governments. States government imposed chairmen on local government through dubious elections conducted by the so-called states Independent Electoral Commission (SIECs) which is an agency of the state governments. The result is that local government can function or be rendered comatose depending on the whims and caprices of the state governments. This is why the fulminations of many state governors over the Supreme Court judgement should not be a surprise: the channel through which the grassroots is being short-changed by the state governors has been blocked.

    President Tinubu deserves resounding accolades from all well-meaning Nigerians on this. He has dared to tread where angels fear and posterity would be kind to him over this major step to free our local government from perpetual underdevelopment.

    The president has also justified his quest to lead the nation at this critical period in her history. He has shown that he is up to the task by stepping on many toes for the betterment of the country. Nigerians need to give the president a chance and support him in his quest to lead the nation to Eldorado.

    •Adewuyi Adegbite,ayekooto05@gmail.com

  • Using block-chain to transform governance

    Using block-chain to transform governance

    • By Shuaib S. Agaka

    Sir: Corruption remains a pervasive and multifaceted challenge within Nigerian governance. It undermines public trust, impedes socio-economic development, and perpetuates systemic inequalities. Corruption manifests in diverse forms, including nepotism, bureaucratic inefficiencies, patronage networks, election malpractice, and lack of transparency in decision-making processes.

    These practices not only erode the legitimacy of governmental institutions but also hinder effective service delivery and exacerbate social injustices across the country.

    In March, the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) revealed that the country lost an estimated $18 billion annually due to financial crimes and corruption. Such staggering statistics underscore the urgent need for a transformative solution. In this context, the government’s move to develop a national block-chain is a significant step forward.

    Block-chain technology, at its core, is a decentralized digital ledger that keeps records across multiple computers in such a way that the registered transactions cannot be altered retroactively. This creates a system of immutable records that are transparent and secure. Each block in the chain contains a list of records, and once a block is completed, it is added to the chain in chronological order, linking to the previous block. This structure ensures that the data is distributed and protected against single points of failure or fraud.

    In the context of governance, immutable records can significantly enhance transparency and accountability. For example, public records such as land titles, birth certificates, and voting results can be stored on a block-chain, ensuring that these documents are both secure and publicly verifiable. This would make it exceedingly difficult for corrupt officials to alter records for personal gain or manipulate data to influence outcomes.

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    The transformative potential of block-chain technology in governance cannot be overstated. By leveraging block-chain’s capabilities, Nigeria can address long-standing issues of corruption, inefficiency, and inequality. The successful implementation of a national block-chain system can create a more transparent, accountable, and efficient governance framework, enhancing the quality of life for citizens and promoting economic growth and development. However, realizing this potential requires addressing the technical, regulatory, and public acceptance challenges associated with block-chain adoption.

    It is essential for government leaders, policymakers, and technologists to collaborate and develop a comprehensive strategy for implementing block-chain technology. This includes investing in research and development, creating a clear regulatory framework, and promoting public awareness and education. By taking proactive steps towards block-chain adoption, Nigeria can position itself as a leader in innovative governance and set an example for other countries to follow. Even though the journey may be challenging, the potential rewards make it a worthwhile endeavour.

    •Shuaib S. Agaka,

    Kano.

  • Suicide prevention in Nigeria

    Suicide prevention in Nigeria

    By Aisha Bubah

    In December 2023, the Honourable Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, launched the National suicide prevention strategic framework (NSPSF). This policy document is aimed at reducing suicide risk, promoting resilience, and coordinating multistakeholder action plans to prevent suicide at all levels. This 7-year framework is expected to reduce deaths by suicide by 15% in 2030.

    However, if we do not decriminalize suicide, we won’t be making much progress in seven years. In June 2023, Ghana made history by decriminalizing attempted suicide, to promote mental wellbeing. Many other countries around the world have done the same, as the criminalization of suicide takes its roots from colonial times.

    Suicides are preventable, but not when you criminalize it and shame people into silence, instead of seeking help. We need a collective approach to reducing the rates of suicide in our society. An approach that takes a look at the social issues that trigger a decline in people’s mental health.

    Currently, the economic hardship and the rising insecurity in some parts of the country are huge causes for concern, anxiety, and feelings of hopelessness among the people. This can lead to a rise in suicides, with some going unreported due to fear of stigma and persecution by law enforcement.

    Recently in Abuja, a young man was reported to have attempted to take his life but got rescued by well-meaning passers. However, once handed over to the police, he was reportedly referred to another government agency for mental health evaluation, afterwards he will be charged to court for “attempted suicide, disturbance of public peace and incitement”.

    In as much as this can be legally justified by the law enforcement agency involved, it defeats the entire effort that has been committed by various stakeholders over a period of decades, to improve access to mental healthcare in Nigeria and reduce stigmas and all other barriers that make it difficult to receive mental healthcare.

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    An ideal society that prioritizes growth and development needs to invest in de-stigmatizing mental health and promoting laws that ensure every individual has access to all the healthcare support they need to thrive. Decriminalizing suicide is one such law that needs to be abolished. Its existence will not reduce suicide rates, if we are going to be faced with the social issues that lead to a breakdown in mental health and the zeal to live. However, abolishing such obsolete laws that have existed since colonial times will promote help-seeking behaviour without any fear. It will ensure that when people are struggling with suicidal thoughts, they will speak up and likely seek help.

    People attempt suicide because they do not see a way out of their difficult situation. However, there is often always a light at the end of the tunnel, and early intervention can support the person to get to such a point where they begin to see the light.

    As individual members of society, we have a responsibility to ensure that we do not perpetuate stigma towards mental health through our words and actions. We need to learn how to identify signs of struggles that people within our inner circles may show.

    Early identification of signs of mental distress helps to save lives. I also call on the government and other relevant stakeholders to move towards ensuring suicide is decriminalized in Nigeria, increase investment in the mental healthcare sector, and ensure that by 2030, we are decreasing our suicide rates by a minimum of 15%.

    It is all achievable if we put in the work needed. After all, a country can only thrive when its people thrive. And mental wellbeing is a key ingredient in ensuring that all humans thrive and contribute meaningfully to society.

    • Aisha Bubah, Aishabubah@thesunshineseriesng.com

  • Old miseries and a new ministry

    Old miseries and a new ministry

    • By Ike Willie-Nwobu

    Sir: The creation of a ministry to oversee affairs, which used to be supervised by the Ministry of Agriculture seems a departure from the past and an attempt to address one of the root causes of insecurity in Nigeria. It appears an attempt to ensure lasting peace and harmony between farmers and herdsmen who should ordinarily work side by side as different players in Nigeria’s food economy. Yet, as with every solution that has successfully and historically addressed a key destabilizing factor anywhere, without  justice, this latest attempt will end up as one more thread in the tapestry of bloated and bureaucratized government ministries constituting little more than a drainpipe on Nigeria’s resources.

    To be clear, while there may be some quiet in rural areas since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office, wisdom demands that it be interpreted and treated as a peace of the graveyard if it is to give way to sustainable peace. This is important so that a country which is not exactly known to follow successful blueprints does not return to its bloody past after only a handful of years.

    Addressing long-running farmer-herder crisis may is undoubtedly a question of justice. There can be no justice unless conscious efforts embrace those who have suffered most from this crisis: rural dwellers, most of whom are farmers.

    The losses have been incalculable. Countless have lost lives, limbs, and livelihoods since the crisis became a major investment for those who aim to destabilize the country. In squalid refugee camps around the country and even from graves, chilling tales are reprised about the displaced, dismembered and defeated in a conflict that has defined most of the last two decades in Nigeria.

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    The ministry’s focus on livestock development suggests prominence and priority will be given to livestock. Is it a sop to Nigeria’s powerful cattle herders who boast top-level connections within the government, or is it a genuine attempt to address a festering problem? Is the government bowing to pressure from powerful pressure  groups or does it feel that it is the right thing to do upon a comprehensive review of the situation?

    In a country that continues to experiment with democracy in a frantic bid to meld its diverse and disparate parts into a solid unit that is greater than the sum of its parts, there would always be questions about politics and justice with every major decision.

    But for farmers and herders in Nigeria to stop fumbling around in old wounds, there must be hard truths as a pathway to justice. Truth as far as the crisis is concerned must entail exposing and punishing all those who hide behind cattle to wreak havoc on lives  and property in Nigeria. Dragging them and their sponsors into public glare will be a major step in addressing old wounds. Furthermore, there must be compensation for all those who have suffered immeasurably from this crisis. While nothing may be enough to bring back the dead, recreate fractured memories, or restore time, a lot can be done to bind the wounds of all those who have lost their livelihoods to herdsmen, and restore hope to orphaned children, and dignity to women who have been raped.

    Beyond creating ministries, the government should be able to do this and prove conclusively that it means to tackle a difficult problem, and not just appease political blocs or pander to ethnic and economic interests.

    •Ike Willie-Nwobu,

    Ikewilly9@gmail.com

  • Kudos to Mr President for liberating Nigeria’s 774 LGs

    Kudos to Mr President for liberating Nigeria’s 774 LGs

    Sir: The recent valiant effort by President Bola Tinubu to guarantee autonomy for the 774 local government councils of the country via the Supreme Court is absolutely commendable and offers a ray of hope for addressing enormous challenges facing poor and vulnerable Nigerians at the grassroots level.

    The next challenge is how to strip the governors of the tight grip on the local government councils which they do through manipulated elections which ensures the return of only the candidates of the ruling parties of the states. Through that, the elected chairman is coerced into handing over the funds through the backdoor. There is a need to ensure a constitutional amendment that will return the conduct of council polls to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Anything short of that is akin to unlocking detainees’ handcuffs within their detention camps without releasing them. 

    What is left for Mr President and the National Assembly now is to amend the constitution to transfer the conduct of local government elections from the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) to INEC to ensure that free, fair and credible elections are held.

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    One aligns with the position of the chairman, Senate Services Committee, Senator Sunday Karimi (APC), Kogi West when stated at the weekend that the National Assembly would soon consider the transfer of the responsibility for the conduct of elections to the local councils from the various state electoral bodies to INEC. He added that the next step for the National Assembly is to amend the Electoral Act, 2022 and the 1999 constitution to give an opportunity for credible people to be elected to steer the affairs of the local governments.

    The attainment of the local councils’ autonomy is the long-awaited opportunity to empower the democratically elected chairmen to carry out those developmental projects which would revive rural communities and impact the lives of the rural people positively.

    President Tinubu has left an indelible legacy for the country and written his name in golden letters by this development. Given that the attainment of the full autonomy for the local governments will positively change the nation’s narrative at the grassroots, Mr President should spare no effort to ensure that the elections at that level are handed over to the INEC in order to whittle down the untoward influence of state governors over them.

    •Mustapha Baba,Azare, Bauchi State.

  • Strategic solutions to food insecurity

    Strategic solutions to food insecurity

    Sir: Addressing food insecurity in Nigeria requires a multifaceted approach that considers the complex socio-economic, environmental, and political factors involved. The followingare some strategies that could help mitigate food insecurity in the country.

    Number one is to set up machinery for the improvement of agricultural productivity by encouraging farmers to embrace the use of modern farming techniques, such as precision agriculture, improved seed varieties, and efficient irrigation systems. Government at all levels also needs to create access to inputs: ensure that farmers have access to quality seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides; provide training programs for farmers on best practices, pest management, and sustainable farming methods.

    Secondly, the government should as a matter of urgency begin to strengthen infrastructure that would enhance transportation networks. Improve rural roads and transportation networks to facilitate the movement of goods from farms to markets, encourage public private partnership in the provision of storage facilities as ell as building and maintaining adequate storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses.

    The Ministry of Agriculture should also create market access. This can be done by developing better market systems to help farmers sell their produce at fair prices.

    Support for smallholder farmers is crucial. So also the provision of access to microfinance and credit facilities to enable smallholder farmers to invest in their farms.

    Government should encourage the formation of farmer cooperatives to enhance bargaining power and reduce costs through collective purchasing and selling.

    The Ministry of Agriculture should strengthen agricultural extension services to support farmers with technical advice and information.

    State and local governments should face reality of their peoples needs. They should support and cooperate with the federal government in addressing the food shortage situation. Every state should as a matter of necessity, prioritize agriculture development; provide, organize support base for farmers in their states.

    To demonstrate sincerity of purpose, the fedearal will need to embark on policy reforms that will support, protect and encourage many young populations to go into farming. The government can start this with implementing land reform policies to secure land tenure for smallholder farmers, making it easier for them to invest in their land. It should provide targeted subsidies and incentives to support agricultural production and reduce the cost of farming inputs.

    It should also develop and implement comprehensive food security policies that address the needs of the most vulnerable populations.

    Nothing stops the government from converting the National Youth Service Scheme into National Youth Farming Scheme, whereby all youth corps members are trained right from camp on various areas of agriculture, animal farming, seeds production etc. The host states should be mandated to provide arable land, farm tools, farm inputs, and other resources, including financial resources required to succeed by the young corps members in their respective states. At the end, the state governments through the local councils will be mandated to purchase whatever the youth corps are able to yield from their farm lands.  Naturally, some of these corps’ members will embrace farming when they finish their service year. Moreso. they will have enough capital and experience to embrace farming rather than be looking for unavailable white-collar jobs, or go into crimes.

    Lastly the federal government should begin to foster international partnerships to access funding, technology, and expertise, leverage international aid and support to implement large-scale food security programs and projects.

    Implementing these strategies requires collaboration among government agencies, non-governmental organizations, private sector stakeholders, and the international community. A coordinated and sustained effort is essential to address the root causes of food insecurity and ensure long-term food security for Nigeria.

    •Adetola Odusote,Lagos.

  • Local government autonomy and federalism

    Local government autonomy and federalism

    Sir: From whatever perspective one may be looking at the recently delivered judgement of the Supreme Court of Nigeria which borders on greater financial autonomy for the so long suffocated local governments in the country, it is in sum and truth, a landmark judgement. For instance, to those who believe that local government as a distinct third tier of government has been emasculated by the state governments through wrongful operations of the State -local government joint account; appointment of caretaker committees for local governments by some governors and usurpation of local government functions by state governments, the judgement is of course, victory and eureka for “true federalism”.

    But the ready question here is this: is federalism no longer a structure of power sharing between two levels of government? One cannot deny the fact that local government administration has been wantonly perverse, recklessly abused and rendered otiose by the state governments that are supposed to be guarding and guiding them, on the basis of the fact that they constitute the states’ sovereign territories.

    While “financial autonomy” may enhance better performance by local governments, no doubt, making the local governments an inch taller than their present height will amount to standing federalism on its head.

    In his definition of federalism, Kenneth Wheare, a leading proponent of federalism proceeded in his formulation of the concept by saying that,” By the federal principle I mean the method of dividing powers so that general (federal) and regional (state) governments are each within a sphere coordinate and independent”. He argued that this constitutional form is adopted in the circumstances where people have resolved to live in unity and diversity.

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    While Wheare and his adherents will see any deviation from this rigid cast and formalism as an aberration, the realities in most federal states across the world is that sociological forces have shaped their praxis of federalism without stripping it of its essential ingredients particularly the powers of the two levels of government.

    One, we should not lose sight of the fact that local government is not reckoned with as an independent level of government in the conceptualization of federalism. Federalism connotes power sharing between two levels of government: federal and state. Two, it is ipso facto, very wrong to have listed local governments in the Nigerian constitution as if they are independent tier of government. Three, territorially they are owned by the states, thus, every state should be able to constitutionally create and evolve its own model of local government. Four, it is wrong for the federal authority to be the one to determine when to create more local governments in a state. It is not in consonance with the spirit of true federalism. Five, the perversions and abuses we have witnessed at the local level by the state governments can be located more in the greed and corruption personification of the political class rather than their ignorance of constitutional provisions.

    Is it not the same manner that the state governors have been waylaying local government funds that the National Assembly has allegedly been waylaying the federal government funds in the name of constituency projects and the notorious budget padding?

    While one is not opposed to good, transparent and accountable governance at the local level, the call here is that we must not engage in any rash amendments to the present constitutional provisions on local government which can further obstruct our yearning for true federalism. Rather, we should be deep in our quest for local government reforms and root it in the context of the long quest for true federalism.

    •Dr. Ademola Adebisi,Elizade University Ilara-Mokin,Ondo State

  • Stemming the tide of building collapse

    Stemming the tide of building collapse

    Sir: Building collapse has been on the rise in Nigeria over the years, leading to injury, loss of life, and property damage. More disturbing is that in July alone, three building collapses have been reported—in Mushin, Lagos; Kubwa, Abuja; and a school in Jos, Plateau—where 22 people were said to have been killed. Immediate action must be taken to stem the tide.

    It is common practice to see housing construction being undertaken by non-qualified professionals. In a bid to save money, many people build their houses without using the necessary professionals. Additionally, some developers, in their quest to maximise profit, employ only some of the services of the required professionals; relying largely on artisans.

    Another significant factor that leads to building collapse is the compromise in the quality and quantity of materials used. This may be done by the contractor in charge of the construction to maximize profit, or even by the site engineer or workers who may exchange quality materials procured with substandard ones or sell some of the materials procured for the construction for personal gain. Hence, there is a need for effective monitoring.

    Government (federal, state, and local, as applicable) should begin to undertake integrity tests on any building that is more than one storey high, especially those in public use. As a matter of policy, such checks should be periodic. Any building found defective, where remedial work cannot salvage it, should be pulled down. Subsequently, any building more than one storey high should be certified habitable by the relevant government agency before being put into use. Anyone engaged in substandard building practices should be sanctioned. All building codes should be enforced.

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    Professional bodies should sanction members who cut corners and compromise standards. They should also monitor the activities of their members from time to time; this will serve as a deterrent to unwholesome practices. There is also a need to create public awareness about the importance of engaging registered professionals in building.

    The Standard Organisation of Nigeria should ensure that substandard building materials are neither domestically produced nor imported for use. They should also conduct random, unannounced inspections of building material vendors to check for substandard items that may have entered the market.

    Nigeria needs to take deliberate actions to stop the issue of building collapse. People should be encouraged to engage registered professionals in their building construction. Professional bodies have a role to play in checking the conduct of their members and sanctioning those who err. By fostering a culture of adherence to standards and professional integrity, Nigeria can mitigate the risk of building collapses and ensure the safety of its citizens.

    •Kenechukwu Aguolu Abuja.

  • LGs: Who says autonomy is silver bullet?

    LGs: Who says autonomy is silver bullet?

    Sir: The most recent Supreme Court judgement in Nigeria has added to the confidence and enthusiasm of local government autonomy advocates coupled with national debates. The advocates have been so passionate about winning absolute autonomy for the local authorities and particularly financial autonomy regardless of historical realities and administrative inefficiencies inherent in earliest era of independent local government system.

    The advocacy for financial autonomy for local government system has been less conscious or considerate of critical questions of how exactly the autonomous financially independent system will lead to robust developments and transformations in the grassroots, critical areas such as modern transportation, modern market/local trading system, local healthcare services, house numbering, basic education, environmental sanitation etc. No answers have been rendered to these critical issues and only few can be exempted from the inefficient leadership in local government system.

    Fundamentally, I believe in modern local government governance but I do not support its total independence nor subscribe to the euphoria that it will help in solving a lot of our complex problems or bring development closer to the locals. I don’t see how local government independence will provide transformational developments in the grassroots judging from experiences of richer area councils (LGAs) in Abuja which is the federal capital territory. Using the performance of some fairly independent local government authorities in some states as “litmus tests”, one can easily foresee the future of newly emancipated local government system. What is most foreseeable is decentralization of corruption to local elites, excessive bureaucracies and abuse of local revenue generation powers using Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) as a good example. Constitutionally, local government is entitled to over 10 taxes and levies, another misnomer that must be addressed.

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    The only condition that can make independent local government administration work effectively across north and southern communities of Nigeria is if federal conditions/development mandates are attached to federal allocations and consequences are attached. Absence of such conditional model is the greatest avenue to encourage administrative corruption prevalent in states (sub-national) as indeed in local governments and little or no reasonable development of grassroots and local areas is therefore feasible. The logic of justifying more corruption in the local government system because it is inherent in state/sub-national government is counterproductive, it makes no sense encouraging “competition of corruption” or culture of “it is our turn to chop, woe to governors” which is the hidden intention of some local elites and advocates. Hence, throwing money to the grassroots elites in the name of local government financial autonomy will not yield any significant progress.

    Local government systems and administrations are unique in different countries but I have observed that local authorities absorbed under state or federal authorities in developed or fast developing economies have been more successful and able to fast track development processes with less room for complicated bureaucracies or costly elections. I will recommend that the local government system or administration in Nigeria be subsumed under state government to be overseen by states Ministry of Local Government Affairs (as applicable in USA) or federal government under federal ministry of local government/rural development as it is applicable in Malaysia and brilliant administrators should be appointed as local administrators maintaining the existing local government areas/structures and reporting progresses to the state government or federal government. This model of two-tier governance will not make governance or national development processes such as city planning, educational policy, revenue collection,  educational polices etc. unnecessarily complex or bureaucratic. It will also save the country from excessive electoral processes/jamborees or costs and limit unaccountable financial responsibilities at the local levels.

    •Mujib Dada-Kadri Esq,Abuja.

  • Urgent need for passage of FRA 2007 Amendment Bill 2024

    Urgent need for passage of FRA 2007 Amendment Bill 2024

    Sir: Nigeria’s public debt has surged dramatically, increasing from N12.8 trillion in 2015 to N87.91 trillion in 2023, representing an astonishing 585% rise, as per the National Bureau of Statistics. This debt increase, along with fluctuating forex rates and inflation, has worsened the economic challenges faced by Nigerians.

    According to a report by Statista.com on September 22, 2023, Nigeria ranks as the second-largest debtor in Sub-Saharan Africa, trailing only South Africa.

    Soludo (2003) suggested that countries typically borrow for two main reasons: to finance higher investment or higher consumption, and to avoid budget constraints. Ideally, borrowing should promote economic growth and reduce poverty. However, Soludo argued that excessive debt can become burdensome, crowding out investment and growth as debt servicing costs soar.

    The continuous quest for loans in the name of “development” without adequate checks and transparency creates opportunities for corruption. The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), which advises the government on borrowing within set limits and aligning with the country’s medium-term expenditure framework, lacks the prosecuting power to enforce financial accountability among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

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    For example, in the 2024 budget, over 8 trillion naira is allocated for debt servicing out of a total budget of 28.7 trillion naira. This necessitates stringent financial management to ensure resources are used wisely and deliver value for money in all government activities.

    A recent report by the GIFT cluster project on the Revenue Remittances Compliance Index (https://shorturl.at/dm8jS) revealed widespread noncompliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2007 among federal MDAs, who fail to remit funds to the CRF or audit their accounts. This issue persists due to the FRC’s lack of prosecuting authority.

    Given Nigeria’s dire financial situation, passing the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2007 Amendment Bill 2024 is critical. The bill, which recently passed its first reading in the National Assembly, seeks to address systemic issues in public finance management and enhance accountability.

    Despite Nigeria’s high debt, the country has the potential to borrow more. However, doing so without addressing fundamental public finance management problems would be counterproductive.

    The FRA Amendment Bill, if enacted, aims to eliminate revenue leakages, improve remittance procedures, and enforce stricter accountability measures. This would foster a sustainable financial system that supports long-term economic growth.

    Key provisions of the FRA Amendment Bill include introducing stricter oversight and accountability for government spending, reducing corruption, and ensuring efficient use of public funds. The bill also aims to tighten borrowing regulations, ensuring loans are used productively, and improve overall fiscal management.

    Passing the amendment would empower the FRC to prosecute non-compliant MDAs, compel them to audit their accounts, and ensure they remit funds appropriately. This would prevent reckless spending of public funds and promote value-for-money practices.

    Furthermore, the legal framework aims to enhance public finance management and ensure the effective use of public funds in crucial sectors like healthcare, education, and infrastructure, thereby improving the quality of life for Nigerians and supporting national development goals.

    Passing the FRA 2007 Amendment Bill 2024 is essential for addressing Nigeria’s fiscal challenges. With soaring debt levels and widespread economic hardship, reforming public finance management is imperative.

    We urge the National Assembly to expedite the bill’s passage and ensure it is swiftly sent to the President for approval. This action would demonstrate the APC-led government’s commitment to improving the lives and wellbeing of Nigerians, fulfilling its “Renewed Hope” promise.

    Tochi Onyeubi and Bassey Bassey,

    •o info@hipcityinnovationcentre.org