Restructure Nigeria on true principles of federalism, Owie tells Buhari

—FORMER Chief whip of the senate,
Senator Rowland Owie has advised President
Muhammadu Buhari to restructure the country
on the principles of true Federalism, urging the
National Assembly to commence the process of
amending the nation's constitution.

According to him, the need to empower states
financially to meet their obligations has become
imperative for national development, stressing
the need for financial independence of state
House of Assemblies to check the excesses of
governors effectively.

According to Owie, “I want to urge President
Muhammadu Buhari to ensure he restructures
Nigeria on the principle of true Federalism. This
is the only way to save the country from
collapse. In the interim, the President of the
Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives should urgently start the
process of amendment of the Nigeria
constitution to grant political and financial
autonomy to the executive and legislative arms
of local government councils in Nigeria, and
expunge the state Independent National
Electoral Commission, INEC, from the
constitution.

"The amendment should reverse the present
revenue allocation by reducing the allocation to
the Federal Government, increase allocations to
states and local government councils and also
abolish state/local governments joint accounts.”