In human existentiality change is a natural phenomenon. The dynamics of life is such that nothing is permanent. Change is a reality beyond human understanding, control and manipulation. Man cannot stop change whether he likes it or not. When it becomes expedient man sometimes facilitate change. Change must always occur. That is the truth about life.
Nigeria is a country of thirty-six states and seven hundred and seventy- four local governments majorly created by military fiat in the years when the khaki men held sway the reins of political power. The Nigerian people were hardly consulted in the lumping of communities that make up the states and local governments and in the delineation of boundaries of those states and local governments. They accepted it however as they looked through futuristic prism with buoying hope in them for a better tomorrow of viability.
The fundamental reason for the creation of states and local governments is to foster speedy development anchored in the quest of the people for distinct identity that will give them a sense of belonging. Many people rejoiced when states were created. They thought that their dream of actualisation as a people with unique identity has manifested in reality. The vast majority of the people looked forward to a viable state they can proudly call their own.
However, several years after states and local governments were created; many Nigerians cannot say for certain whether the exercise conducted by the military was a blessing or a curse. Many compatriots are not shouting eureka because the zeal and optimism that greeted states and local governments’ creation has waned for the single reason that expectations have not been met. Centripetal expectations are more in the breach than in its fulfilment. Centrifugal forces have taken over and people hitherto united see themselves as beings without any commonality.
The recent sacking of civil servants who are not from Abia State by the state government readily comes to mind. Although, Abia state government was not the first to carry out such retrogressive exercise, many see it as engendering disunity and sowing dangerous seed of bitterness of brothers against brothers. It can now be said without equivocation that more states and local governments are akin to more divisions of a people once united. The problem of boundary delimitation; the challenge of assets sharing; and the palaver of who gets what in the state’s micro macrocosm; cumulatively become a cog in the wheel of progress and development.
Since after creation of states and local governments, development and progress of those entities are nothing to write home about as; there have not been any crystal clear differences in terms of meeting the expectations and enthusiasm that greeted the exercise then. Many state capitals are nothing but glorified local government headquarters. Roads are still in deplorable conditions, pipe-borne water pipes are still dry, hospitals are still mere consulting clinics, and many are still more in the dark than in the light as a result of epileptic electricity supply.
The states and local governments that are not performing blame paucity of funds as reason for non performance. Why wouldn’t funds be a problem when 70% of state’s funds go to recurrent sub head, while mere 30% is for capital development? There is no way development and progress can flower in a state where only meagre amount is earmarked for capital projects.
Recently the Nigerian senate observed that some states are in financial distress and called for more funds to be given them. The Senate revealed that Kano, Sokoto, Niger, Zamfara, Katsina, and Osun are distressed. And those in critical conditions are Ekiti, Plateau, Benue, Edo, Borno, Adamawa, Cross River, Enugu, Taraba, Ogun, Kogi, Yobe, Ebonyi, Ondo and Kaduna. Unhealthy ones are Bauchi, Bayelsa, Nasarawa, Gombe, Rivers and Oyo. Those that are tolerable are Imo, Kwara, Lagos, kebbbi, and Delta. Healthy ones are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra and Jigawa.
Going by the information emanating from the senate, 6 states are in distress; 15 are in critical conditions; 6 are in unhealthy state; 5 in tolerable conditions and 4 are healthy. In other words, only four out of thirty-six states in the country have clean bill of health. If that is so, one is inclined to ask; what is the essence of having litany of states and local governments that are not self-sufficient. I want to believe that self-sufficiency was one of the critical conditions that qualified the existing states to be created and not just political exigency.
Now that the states instead of finding ways of generating internal revenues and becoming economically solid; go cap in hand to the federal government soliciting for funds to keep them afloat, one is inclined to call for the dismembering all distressed states. One does not know how long such states should be pampered with oil money. If the government at the centre can and often authorise the merger and acquisition of distressed companies and even banks, one wonders why such measures should not be taken against states that are not performing in accordance to their constitutional obligations. I hold the opinion that unless such measure is taken; many states will continue to look up to the centre for funds from oil sale, which is spent as soon as allocations get to them.
Nigerians want viable states and local governments. They want states and local governments that will invest in developmental projects that will impact them. They want to see jobs created. They want to see roads constructed and repaired. They want to see electricity steady. They want to see hospitals equipped with modern gadgets and medicines and sundries. They want to see children and other students learn in clement environment. Nigerians are tired of highfaluting esoteric speeches of our politicians and government officials laced with deceit. They are tired of the opulence of few in the midst of penury of majority.
The lawmakers at the National Assembly as representatives of the people should as a matter of urgent national importance begin a process of enacting law that will give teeth to merger of distressed states with the healthy ones. Asking for more funds for unviable states is not a one off solution to the cancerous problem. Any state that wants to exist should seek viable ways to be solvent.
In this 21st century, proactive solutions should be found for cancerous challenges. Distress in states is a cancerous problem facing Nigeria and Nigerians that needs urgent surgical operation to remove the tumour of insolvency. Some few political beneficiaries may oppose such viewpoint but indefensible sentiments should not becloud the humanitarianism of opinion expressed in this piece. Let distressed states be merged with healthy ones. Let solvent states swallow insolvent states.
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