Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Solid Mineral Development |
There is
the overriding encumbrance, beginning with the 1969 Petroleum
Act, enacted by the General Yakubu Gowon-led federal military
government, which has taken over the mineral wealth of
the federating units and legitimised the unilateral move
by provisions in subsequent democratic constitutions. Thus, in the 1999
Constitution, the Second Schedule, Part1 item 39 of the Exclusive
Legislative List, ‘mines and minerals, including oil fields, oil mining,
geological surveys and natural gas’ are firmly under the control
of the Federal Government. It is, therefore, difficult to reconcile
this with Fayemi’s statement that ‘there is absolutely nothing in the law’
to hinder states exploiting their own mineral resources.
There is,
indeed, everything preventing them and that is encapsulated in item 39 of the
Exclusive List. Fayemi knows this but he certainly spoke the mind of most forward-thinking
and patriotic Nigerians by raising the possibility of states and local
governments benefitting maximally from their mineral wealth.
The economic
exigency today makes it inevitable that the states should, nay,
must seek alternative sources of revenue if they are to
avoid failing as states. For how long can a state governor
worthy of that title or description go cap in hand for a bailout from the
central government? For, a state is a state in the proper meaning that it
can meet its statutory obligations to its citizens. The prevailing
situation, whereby the federal authorities sit pretty on the mineral
resources of weakened, desperate -for -cash states and local
governments, but contents itself with granting ‘in its
magnanimity,’ handouts is inequitable, unfair, and absolutely
wrong. That is certainly not how to run a federal system of willing
constituents.
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It bears
stressing here for the umpteenth time, that there is no state in this
federation that is not endowed with mineral and non-mineral resources
that would, if transparently exploited and put to the greatest use of
the greatest number of the people, transform this country beyond
belief. The details of what mineral is located where are well and widely
known; the know-how to exploit them is readily available, technical and
financial collaborators even more so. The only obstacle to this sensible way to
go is the Federal Government or better still, the false federal structure
Nigeria runs. This must not go on. It is noteworthy that the fiscal
federalism practiced in the first republic was a driver of healthy rivalry to
develop among the regions; it also helped the economic stability of the regions
and the entire country.
Fiscal
federalism, in whatever guise it is couched, remains a burning
issue ; enough for the 2014 National Conference to, as a
beginning to resolve it, propose major changes in the
existing mode of resource distribution. This is why we again urge
the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to consider implementing the
conference report.
The sharply
declining economy demands, as a matter of necessity, that the All Progressives
Congress (APC) government of change does things differently. The
government at the centre is too removed – physically and psychologically – from
the generality of the people to appreciate their needs and concerns. Besides
verbal expressions of commitment, there is, so far, little to show that the
executive and the national legislature understand the yearnings of the
electorate. This is one reason that, instead of contenting themselves
with bailouts from the presidency, state governors must push for the
repeal of the second schedule, part 1 (39) of the extant constitution. The Eighth National Assembly must also do
its patriotic part in this matter by repealing that section of
the constitution that prevents the federating units of this country
from full ownership of their resources. They will, in turn, take
full responsibility for the welfare of their citizens.
All said,
however, in order to achieve more rapid economic development and political
stability, there is no alternative to a fiscal federalism that will guarantee
an equitable generation and allocation of resources. Indeed, Fayemi would be
doing the nation a great favour by bringing this to pass in his tenure as
minster of solid minerals by, not just speaking, but also initiating the bill
for a law to free the nation’s resources. (Source: Guardian)
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