Following debates for reatructing, the Zazzau Emirate Development Association (ZEMDA), has recommended that 36 states be maintained for harmony, stability and interest of the minorities in the country.
The association made the recommendation in a memo on restructuring in Nigerian signed by the
President and Secretary General of the association, Ahmad Maccido and Muhammad Sani Uwais
respectively and made available to Daily Trust over the weekend.
The association argued that there is an urgent need for Nigerian’s to restructure their minds
saying, “Things can no longer be business as usual in terms of corruption, indiscipline, greed and
other social ills.”
They added, “With the pervasive nature of social media and other contemporary developments today,
the lives of Nigerian’s are precarious and insecure.
“Adherence to the rule of law and fundamental human right must be practiced by both rulers and the
ruled; otherwise no restructuring of whatever hue will ensure the “good life” Nigeriams are
craving”.
He emphasized that there is need to address the unbearable cost of governance saying, “In a
situation whereby 70% to 60% of the budgets, federal and state go to the recurrent rather than the
capital expenses can only be allowed to continue at our own peril.
“The present expenditure born by our economy in the service of our operators of the Legislature,
Executive and Judiciary stands reason on its head, the salaries and allowances of federal and state
legislators, federal and state members of the executive councils and federal and state top echelon
of the judiciary belies justice, equity and logic.
“ZEMDA suggested that in order to reduce the cost of political and administration, a unicameral
legislative should replace the current bi cameral one. The new single chamber should have
representatives based on the population of the state; who should work on part-time basisband be paid
accordingly.
“There should be not more than 36 ministers at the federal level and not more than 10 commissioners
in each state. States houses of assembly should be made up of members representing around 200,000
people, who should equally work on part time basis and be paid according to the number of sittings.”
