The former Nigerian ambassador to United Kingdom, Amb. Sarafa Tunji Ishola has emphasized the need for functional local government administrations in Nigeria, saying the current system often limits their effectiveness.
Tunji Ishola, who made the call on Thursday at the 7th Anniversary Lecture of Penpushing Media, held at OOPL, Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, recalled that, in the past local governments were more effective and had departments like Public Works Department (PWD) that contributed to their functionality.
He stressed that the emphasis should be on the people, as leaders are the reflection of the society, and noted that bad leadership is often a result of a flawed society, arguing that, addressing issues like illiteracy and poverty is crucial to good governance.
While addressing the need for increased job opportunities for Nigerians to address the country’s challenges, highlighted the importance of creating an enabling environment that fosters economic growth and development.
Speaking on democracy in Nigeria, he posited that democracy will continue tobhave problems until certain issue are resolved which includes illiteracy and poverty.
Ishola, who also expressed concerns about the ritualistic nature of constitutional review in Nigeria, argued that, it is not a panacea for the country’s problems.
He advocated for a more comprehensive approach that will address what he sees that hindering the effective functioning of the federal system, which includes examining the federating units, sub-national governments, and fiscal federalism to ensure that resources are allocated effectively.
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