Nigerians are advocating for essential electoral and constitutional reforms to improve governance, particularly at the grassroots level. This call was emphasized during a recent webinar where various participants including Femi Falana highlighted the failures of the 1999 constitution in addressing socio-economic challenges and ensuring accountable leadership. The discussion underscored the urgency for reforms before the 2027 elections.
Nigerians are increasingly calling for electoral and constitutional reforms to enhance governance, particularly at the grassroots level. This sentiment was expressed during a webinar hosted by the African Leadership Group, where the inadequacies of the 1999 constitution were discussed. Participants highlighted the constitution’s failure to address pressing socio-economic issues and ensure accountable leadership, citing widespread poverty amidst abundant national resources.
Prominent lawyer and human rights advocate Femi Falana criticized the current government’s economic reforms, asserting they have exacerbated poverty despite claims of progress. He emphasized the importance of resource management, questioning the failure to ensure that local governments can fulfill their salary obligations. Falana urged citizens to hold leaders accountable across all tiers of government and confront the monetization of electoral processes by political elites.
Another participant, Funke Awolowo, emphasized that it is essential for the elite to engage with ordinary citizens to understand their needs effectively. Tony Nnadi traced the current crises back to the 1999 constitution, which he labeled unitary and incapable of addressing the nation’s socio-economic challenges. He called for its replacement for the betterment of governance and reduced operational costs.
Professor Adenike Grange insisted that the voices of those affected by poverty must be included in discussions regarding national change. Akin Fapohun highlighted the urgent need to amend the 1999 constitution to ensure the country’s viability moving forward, suggesting that the upcoming 2027 elections should be postponed until these reforms are achieved. Oluyinka Oyeniji echoed this sentiment, advocating for enhanced engagement with the National Assembly to facilitate necessary amendments
Conclusions were drawn around the critical necessity for constitutional reform in Nigeria to promote good governance and accountability. The discussions revealed a strong consensus on the inadequacies of the current constitution, with many participants urging for reform initiatives to be prioritized ahead of the next general elections.
The dialogue among Nigerian citizens and leaders at the webinar highlights an urgent need for constitutional and electoral reforms to foster good governance. The 1999 constitution is seen as inadequate for solving the nation’s socio-economic challenges. Active citizen engagement and accountability from leaders are deemed essential for progress. Many advocates stress that fundamental changes must occur before the 2027 elections to pave the way for improved governance.
Original Source: businessday.ng
