Nigeria is Designed for Economic Superiority not Cultural Superiority

Wilson Iguade

Dallas, Texas

Nigeria needs to achieve economic superiority to solve its toughest social and political problems by decentralizing the "CENTRAL GOVERNMENT POWER". By central government power I mean for examples (a) Power to tax (b) Power to protect citizens, defend state and run its elections. (c) Power to educate, and (d) Power to prosecute law of the state

Let me briefly expand on the above items (a), (b), (c), and (d).

(a) Power to Tax.

The federal govt should restructure its tax system and tax the states to generate revenue at the federal level instead of the people. Of course, this may be perceived as a drastic measure but I disagree given that I am advocating for diminishing the power of the federal government not building it up or stronger than it is now. Yes, the states should be allowed to tax its citizens at any length and breadth. If a state chooses to tax too much, the economy of that state would respond to balance the taxes. Likewise, if a state chooses to tax too little that state economy will respond appropriately and the people will be rewarded or punished. Going back to the reservation of the federal government rights to tax the state instead of the people, the federal government taxes on each states will not be the same "tax rate" given that each states have different levels of natural resources such as "oil" and other natural resources. For example the Niger Delta areas will be taxed a lot higher tax rate than the so-called "poor states" and the federal government will then redistribute all the taxes collected at different allocation percentages back to the states in the federation based on needs.

One may be tempted to ask what if the states refuse to pay their taxes? Well this is a valid question but not the focus of this writer because the writer believes that when you refuse to pay your bills there must be severe consequences at some point in time. So, why worry on whether the states will pay or not. These modalities are premature at this stage since the focus of this piece is to broadcast the need to further decentralize the center government in Nigeria and liberate the people.

This is a very simple concept but can be made complicated if ones lack understanding of a tax system. Of course, all the modalities are not detailed in this write up and it is not the intention of the writer to spell out all details this idea may entails. This writer is merely attempting to plant this idea in your mind in order to create the awareness that we have solutions to Nigerian problems regardless of all the dichotomies existing in our structure or composition of Nigeria.

(b) Power to protect citizens, defend state and run its elections.

The state government MUST be allowed to develop its own police force and be responsible for training them. The existence of a state police force does not prevent the federal government from having its own federal police force responsible for federal crimes and injustices. If states are allowed to protect their citizens the states will have more to do in using state treasury and the level of public accountability will endeavor in the final analysis. The buck must stop at the state governor’s office for citizen’s protections, and running the state elections. States administrators will be exposed for better or worst depending on the vision of the leaders elected. Those states that elect visionary leaders will be rewarded and its prosperity in the final analysis will exert pressure on the poor vision states to keep up with the progressive states doing well for its people. This framework will bring competition amongst states and eventually checkmate the federal government because the states will demand accountabilities from the federal government since it is the state that are collecting taxes to pay the federal government. States government will be conscious of levying taxes on its people knowing fully well that at some point in taxation the economy is stagnate and new leaders will be required. I know that some may take the view that state agencies should NOT be allowed to run their election because of the level of election fraud that may come into practice. I just plain disagree. In every situation, even in our current dispensation, some states, though very few in numbers, are making the best of what we currently dispense in our present political climate. The point here is not to master this idea in one night but in the long run will be survive, will it solve our problems, will it serve the people. That is the power of this idea.

C) Power to educate:

The power to educate is immense and has no limit and or boundaries. Here is what I mean, states educational structure and priorities of education will create certain industries be it in the high tech/low tech jobs, service/financial industry, farming/agriculture industry, manufacturing industries, or “whatever”. My point the economy and growth of that states will be tied to the types of education produced in that states. In this form of decentralization there will be no federal ministry of education. States will set their own standards and fund it themselves. I am arguing here that the economic prosperity of each state depends on them and not the federal government. The power of the state government will be more meaningful than the power of the federal government. If states are allowed to do more for themselves with the money they generate on their land and the creativities of their leaders, Nigerian will achieve its purpose - economy superiority and not cultural superiority.

(d) Power to prosecute law of the state.

The power to prosecute assumes many issues. It assumes, for example, that the state writes its own laws. It assumes that the state has its own police to arrest and investigate crimes and injustice. It assumes that the state has the financial and educational wherewithal to fund the nuances that must take place before a crime is prosecuted and justice rendered. In this idea, I believe that states will be rewarded or punished for injustice rendered to the people. I believe that states will be rewarded or punished for policy that elevate or depress the people. I believe that in this idea of prosecution, the people will be liberated and freedom will reign knowing that justice and the law is upheld. Business will flourish and transactions abound because the people will know that the system allow for remedy when a crime is committed. The people in the states where no man is above the law will prosper than those states where double standards and the rule of law is ignored. Competition for human capitals/resources will endeavor to lift the poverty of the people while the reverse will reign on those states that suck up to man and not to the rule of law.

In conclusion, let me be clear that my ideas of decentralizing the CENTRAL GOVERNMENT POWER to the states DO not exempt federal government responsibilities and duties such as the defense of the country from internal and external enemies. The responsibilities and duties of international affairs, commence, treaties, etc. The federal government is responsible for the overall promotion of all cultures to reinforce its strength and show colors of wealth.

The ideas expressed above are pragmatic solutions to majority of Nigerian social and political problems. I know from reading many writers of the doom and gloom class and their scenarios perceived about the structure of Nigeria have destined Nigeria to fail given the flavored dichotomies existing in Nigeria. I believe that Nigeria perhaps in mistake or not in its design, is destined for economy supremacy and not cultural dominance. What benefits is it to dominate culturally if the finance is not there to provide basic infrastructures and amenities to the people?

Nigeria, WHEN financially successful will PAY less attention to language, religion, geographical limitation and the other nonsense that some writers continue to dwell on as the demise of Nigeria. Nigeria CAN indeed dominant the world if we can explore the ideas outlined above and the modalities developed in totality to benefit THE PEOPLE.