Mr. Anthony Olatujoye is  a legal practitioner, and   Managing   Partner, Difgland Partners, a law firm based in Abuja. Before his foray into private practice, he worked with the Central Bank of Nigeria for 31 years and retired as Legal Adviser/Director, Legal Services. In this interview, he talks about the economy and restructuring among other national issues. Excerpts:

What   is your   reaction to the recent calls for the restructuring of the country?

It is a call in the right direction. Restructuring is long overdue. Some of the challenges facing us today would have been needless had we restructured long ago. Restructuring is about effecting or bringing about changes that will help unify us together as a nation. For instance we should have been implementing fiscal federalism long time ago. By doing this, the problems we are facing now as a result of global   drop in oil price would not have had devastating effects on us as it is doing now. Our over-dependence on oil has made us to be lazy, and we are paying the price now.

Is Nigeria not practising true federalism?

It is true we are a federal state, in practice, Nigeria has become more or less a unitary state, and that is why all the 36 states have to depend on the government at the centre, for monthly allocations. Under a true federal practice, states are supposed to enjoy some autonomy from the Federal Government. Not only that, states are also expected to develop some resources in their domains in order to generate revenue, but this has not been so. Now that oil price has crashed and many states can no longer pay their workers salaries, everybody is now talking about the need for fiscal federalism. The reality we must face today is that if we don’t restructure, we will only be postponing the evil day.

But the impression some people are giving is that restructuring will lead to the break-up of the country.

Anthony Olatujoye

Those saying this are mis-informing the people and it is unfortunate. No society is perfect, even the United States of America, there are still complaints and calls for reviews of their system from time to time as a way of unifying the people. Restructuring can never lead to Nigeria’s break-up, rather it will help to strengthen the country. Today, you have agitations all across the country.

The Boko Haram insurgency is here, you also have the Biafra agitations in the South-East, so also is the Niger-Delta Avengers wreaking havoc   in the South-South, bombing oil pipe-lines and yet, people  are saying we don’t need restructuring.  It is by restructuring that we can address these problems. I will advise President Muhammadu Buhari not only to listen to the agitations for Restructuring but take steps towards restructuring Nigeria. How can Nigeria break up when you listen to grievances of people and you then take steps to address the issues they have raised?

We should not pretend as if all is well. Our leaders should try to address some of these agitations. Today what we are practicing in Nigeria is nothing but a caricature of federalism. Until we do the needful, long lasting peace may continue to elude us. For those who are afraid that true practice of federalism will affect some states especially those that are not oil producing, I say they have nothing to fear.

There is no state in Nigeria that does not have one mineral resource or the other that can be harnessed and exploited for commercial purposes. What about cash crops? In the First Republic when we were still practicing true federalism, Nigeria was well known as a leading country for cash crops. In Kano you had groundnut pyramids and cotton, in the South-East you had palm-oil and coal, for the Mid-West and South-West you had palm-oil, rubber and cocoa. At a point Nigeria was the leading cocoa producing nation in the world. But what do you have today? Our over-dependence on oil has put us into trouble.

Between 27 of 36 states are owing workers salary due to fall in oil revenue.  How do you react to this?

It is unfortunate, it is sad . A labourer, as the saying goes, deserves his wage. If the 36 states have not been over-dependent on the central government in Abuja, this ugly situation would have been averted. The states should have been in-ward looking instead of going cap in hand to Abuja every now and then to solicit for funds. States, as autonomous structures within a federal structure, should be less dependent on the Federal Government. They should have avenues for generating revenues.

So, what is the way out? Is bail-out from the Federal Government the answer?

The answer is simple. States should look for ways to boost their internally generated revenue IGR . Other states should emulate Lagos State which generates about N30 billion IGR monthly. There is no state in Nigeria that cannot generate sufficient funds for its upkeep. States can also go back to agriculture, back to farming. We should start mass production of cash crops like palm-oil, groundnut, rubber and cotton. If we do this, states will become financially buoyant.

People have accused some state governors of not being prudent in the management of monthly allocations they receive to run their states, what is your view on this?

There is a need for   monitoring of how state finances are utilized by the governors. The anti-corruption agencies can be strengthened and empowered to monitor governors on their spending habits. Anyone found to be corrupt can then be put on trial after serving out his term. There is need for financial sanity in our system. Another aspect is the issue of local government autonomy. Autonomy of local governments should be respected. Many state governors have tampered with LG’s autonomy and their funds. They divert funds meant for development in local government areas for other uses. This is not only illegal but also unconstitutional.

The issue of what should be done with recovered looted funds has also become a subject of debate.  In your view, how should the money be utilised?

Part of the money should be used to fix the epileptic power sector. If the power sector stabilizes, a lot of other things would sort itself out; companies and factories that have been moribund will bounce back to life, and job opportunities will be created. A lot of things that were dead before will come back alive. Part of the recovered looted fund can also be injected into the economy to help as part of efforts to pull the nation out of economic recession.

What is your assessment of the war against corruption by Buhari’s government?

It is a right step in the right direction. Looters should be regarded as economic saboteurs. They should   not be treated with kids gloves. Aside recovering money they stole, they should also be sanctioned, at least   to serve as a deterrent. There are penalties in our law books for looters. However, the trial of suspects must be seen to be free   and   fair. They must be given fair trial.

One thing I would emphasize is that government needs to put   measures in place to   address problems of hunger, poverty, and unemployment. Nigeria is a blessed nation,we only need the right leaders to help us attain greatness.

How can Nigeria attain greatness?

We need a   new crop of leaders who are selfless and dedicated. We need leaders who will no longer see public office as an avenue to loot but to serve. Nigeria is destined to be great, we need men and women of honor, who will henceforth see public office as an avenue to serve and not to loot public treasury.