Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state has renewed calls for devolution of power between the Federal Government and 36 states in the country.
The Governor
who was one of the speakers at a programme called ‘Radio Now’s Urgent
Conversation’ which aired on Channels Television on Friday February 19, stated
that centralised police for the country has not worked.
El-Rufai
said;
“I will dwell
on three of the issues that I believe are critical to the immediate needs of
the country to pull back from the brink.
“The first,
it is imperative for Federal, state, and community policing. We do not have
enough police. One centralised police for the country just has not
worked."
He also
called for state control of resources and a less unitary judiciary. El-Rufai
added;
“Secondly, we
must amend the constitution and relevant laws to ensure control of oil and gas,
mines, and minerals in the states that already have control over land under the
land use Act with royalties and taxes payable to the Federal Government and the
Federation Account.
“Number three
we must rectify the anomaly of a Federation that has a more or less unitary
judiciary."
On urgency of
the demand, the Governor said;
“My first recommendation is to implement the
three key devolution proposals that I mentioned above. Give us state police
now, vest all minerals in the state now, and decentralised our judiciary now,
not tomorrow, not later.”
On banditry,
the Governor said;
“It is an
understatement to say that Nigeria is in one of its most difficult moments. The
genuine fears for their lives and property felt by many citizens across the
country need to be assuaged. All responsible persons must show compassion to
our compatriots that have been affected while calming nerves.
“Banditry is
a national problem, with victims from all parts of the country, and we should
address it with a common resolve."
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