We Must Enforce Fiscal Federalism–Ida

Senator Ibrahim Ida who represented Katsina Central in the 6th Senate has stated that those calling for fiscal federalism don’t know what it is all about. Speaking to journalists in his law firm recently, he also spoke on other issues of national discourse. Ruth Choji was there for LEADERSHIP WEEKEND.

There is this ongoing agitation for fiscal federalism, do you think Nigeria is ready for it?

Maybe those clamouring for federalism are not familiar with what it is all about. A federal system is one where you have various tiers of government, starting from the lower one to the? one on the top. The one on top responsible for the nation, the one below? is responsible for other segments, you may even go lower like the local governments.

The important thing is that each tier has its own responsibility. There are some that are exclusive to a particular tier and there are some that are concurrent. That means that each side can legislate, but the higher tier supersedes the lower tier; but for the exclusive, it means that it is only one tier that will legislate on a particular issue. In Nigeria, we have? a federal system in the? constitutional arrangement, that is different from a unity system or a con federal system.

Unfortunately, we started with the unity system during the colonial era, but by the time of independence we adopted the federal system, then we had region and the federal government. At that time, the regional government had its own constitution, it was the military that distorted the system, when the military took over.

There was a futile attempt to unify the country into one political unit, that failed, and the federal system was adopted in theory because of the system of command of the military and the fact that those who manage the states were subordinate to those in the center.

Theoretically, we were operating a federal system, but in reality, the centre was handling everything. In our mindset, it will take us time to purge ourselves of that thing.? The question is, at what time are we going to allow the constitution? to run? The constitution also indicates how federal revenue is to be shared.? The agency responsible for revenue allocation,? is run by the? federal government. So whether we like it or not, no matter how good the people are, it is not impossible for them to be swayed by the federal government.

So you will find that while the constitution defines roles, it is the federal government that will determine the manner in which the revenue can be shared, most of the taxation laws are enacted by the federal government.

So a more equitable federalism is one that recognises the division and the legislative functions and roles? that are given to the different tiers and also allows the other tiers? to operate without hindrance, it is not just the? federal government but even the state government that are interfering in what? the local government are doing, that can only come to be when we have the right calibre of people at all levels, those who can fight and see what the constitution says.

Would you say that the call for fiscal federalism is a misplaced priority?

It is not a misplaced priority, it is something that is long overdue, we should not concern ourselves with calling for it, we should devise a means of realising it, that can be done if each tier appreciates its own position and concede the roles that are not for it to the tier to which it rightfully belongs,

The proposed six year tenure has generated lots of uproar in the polity, what is your take on that?
Having? been in the parliament for four years, I know the constraints, within the four years For a political office holder, he has the first year to get use to the system, he has the second year to plan what he wants to do, he has the third year to start executing what he wants, he has the fourth year to start preparing for the next elections. If you do that, then you will find that the electorates are being short-changed. Even in countries from where we adopted this model, it is obvious that a lot of time and resources is spent on politicking rather than in governing, it is not as simple as it appears to us. From experience, the rational for a longer tenure is there, the problems we have with elections in Nigeria is that, if you are an incumbent, then everything is tagged in your favour, you are in a position to explore that position and ensure your success; but when you know that you are not contesting, you will allow for fairness, equity and probity to play. I know the resources politicians put in this kind of situation, I also know the social havoc of what is happening during elections.

Are you a proponent of the six year term for political office holders?

Let us look at the bill first. Now it is mere speculation, I believe that we should not let the tenure of the executive and legislative to concur, because it will start a problem, it will be good when the executive is there to oversee the coming of the legislature and the legislature also oversee the coming of the executive, so that their tenure will not coincide.

Already we have staggered elections because some states would? conduct their elections? after the general elections; how would that be achieved?

It is only going to affect the states. In the center, such a thing cannot happen in the center, but this is the reason why we need to have longer elections. With the short ones, you will? find out that we will continue to have staggered elections because it is very costly whether it is nationwide or a particular environment. This is a situation where the legislature, had played its role by amending the electoral act. The executive conducts the elections, the judiciary has come out to say that, no, this should lead that, and we are now having a sort of judicial activism in play, because the staggered elections are a result of? legal pronouncement, I think it is cheaper to hold elections the same time than to have it subsequently, cheaper in terms of tranquility of the society.

There have been calls for ICPC and EFCC to be merged. What is your take on this?

When the laws were made for the setting up of the EFCC and ICPC, everybody knew they were there, one is to fight corruption in the public sector; that is the ICPC, but it does not close its eyes to the private sector as well, it is to fight corruption within the bureaucracy, it is an agency that is meant to check economic sabotage. So we should not throw way the baby with the bath water, the problems would be compounded, I don’t have the facts of the attorney, so I don’t know why he suggested it, but my feeling is that these two agencies have different roles, all be it complimentary, they have different focus but the same objective, I believe each should be allowed to perform its role.

The EFCC used to be feared and dreaded by most people, but recently it has lost its ferocity. What do you think is the matter with the agency?

It is a human trait, you get it anywhere, it is not the fault of anybody, anything that comes new, the first thing is anxiety, fear, know when EFCC came, everybody was afraid, because they didn’t? know what they are going to do, but when it? modus was realised, people became docile, when you are doing the type of job the EFCC is doing, you should expect a barrage of? critism, it is a fact of life that you get use to anything and people have gotten use to EFCC. They are doing a marvelous job.