PRESS BRIEFING ON THE STATE OF THE NATION.
Opening.
Gentlemen of the Press,
I thank you for honouring this invitation at such short notice. I speak to you today not merely as a loyal party man, but as a statesman, a patriot, and one who has served this country at the highest levels of lawmaking. My concern is Nigeria our unity, our stability, and our future.
Hence, this briefing is beyond party politics. It is a call to conscience.
After careful deliberation, I have come to a firm belief that our country Nigeria needs to confront certain anomalies that inhibit our nation from making progress toward building a strong nation to elevate the wellbeing of our people.
My first call is for all political actors to desist from heating up the polity to avoid unnecessary distraction from governance and concentrate on enhancing polices on the ground and pursuing policy proposals that benefit the populace.
To create the needed stability, we must refrain from partisanship and focus on the immediate needs of the country.
It is my observation that the present administration has put down certain polices that should attract the interest of our people and those who aspire to make contributions through governance.
These polices, without any partisan political bias could create a solid foundation for economic take-off of this country if properly executed and processed.
Local Government Autonomy: The Justice Emmanuel Agim led Supreme Court judgment of July 11, 2024, affirming financial autonomy for Local Governments, is arguably one of the most significant advancements for Nigerian democracy since 1999. This historic ruling directly corroborates the judgment I secured in 2010 in favour of local government autonomy, delivered by Justice M.G. Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
To me, local government autonomy is the bedrock of any true democracy. The local government is the closest tier to the people and the only one capable of safeguarding the interests of minorities across our Federation.
When empowered, LGs can deliver real development, improve living standards, and strengthen community-based security because there is no ward councilor who does not know the people living in his environment.
But for this autonomy to have true meaning, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must be constitutionally mandated to conduct all Local Government elections. The continued existence of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), often used as tools for manipulation, makes a mockery of democracy.
Equally, I call on national stakeholders, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), and other civic groups to take active interest in monitoring the utilisation of Local Government funds. These resources now flow directly from the Federation Account, and only collective vigilance will ensure they are not diverted but instead used to uplift communities at the grassroots.
Furthermore, our legislatures and judiciary must enjoy full financial autonomy. Without this, checks and balances remain an illusion, and democracy becomes vulnerable to abuse. True autonomy across all arms and tiers of government is the only path to restoring public trust and delivering good governance.
Removal of fuel subsidy
While in the Senate, in 2015, I proposed a bill for the removal of fuel subsidy. This is an issue that achieved consensus during the last presidential election. President Tinubu enacted this policy on his first day in office. However, it has been observed that the proceeds which he distributed constitutionally to States and Local Governments have not yielded the desired result of enhancing the quality of life of the citizens.
It is becoming increasingly clear that most of these Governors have shown no convincing evidence in their use of these proceeds to affect the States Human Development Index (HDI).
Here is the catch, the Governors cannot be legally held accountable for any gross mismanagement of these proceeds because they enjoy immunity from prosecution in the constitution.
I therefore, propose that a much higher percentage be allocated to the Local Government System which can be held consequentially accountable for any mismanagement of these government proceeds. This must be made constitutional. Therefore, everybody should rise to the occasion and hold the Local Government Chairmen to account, and where necessary, take them to court to explain where the money is.
The 30% local processing of raw materials before export is another commendable move of this government, though this time from the Senate. I also proposed a bill in the Senate that no agricultural or mineral resources should leave the shores of Nigeria without processing it at least at its primary stage. What it would do is to make us know exactly what is being extracted, so that we can get adequate and appropriate revenue from it. Secondly, we will now acquire the technology. Thirdly, it will create massive employment for our teeming youths in the country. All these criminal activities associated with mining will cease.
Again, I commend the current tax reform initiative of this administration. It’s merit lies in its ambition to fundamentally reshape Nigeria’s revenue architecture. For decades, we have functioned as a rentier state, overly reliant on the volatilities of oil revenue. This reform seeks to change that by: Broadening the Tax Base, Enhancing Efficiency and Transparency, and Creating a Stable Fiscal Environment. In essence, this reform is not about taking more from the people; it is about building a system where everyone contributes their fair share to build the nation, thereby creating a larger economic pie for everyone to benefit from.
However, one of the policies this government should drive urgently is to Implement Diaspora Voting: While in the Senate, the Nigerians in the diaspora right to vote was one of the bills I sponsored. It is worthy to highlight the rising significance of the Nigerian diaspora to the nation’s economic development, where it is on record that the official remittances from Nigerians abroad hit $20.93 billion in 2024, 4-times the value of Nigeria’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for the same period. It is a paradox that Nigerians in the diaspora, who are monumental contributors to our economy through remittances and knowledge transfer, are disenfranchised. They live in advanced economies whose electoral systems are refined, they know the significance of good leadership, and their votes can shape our Presidential elections for the better. With current technology, it is laughable that we have not created a secure digital platform for them to vote. Therefore, I propose for an immediate law to ensure electoral inclusivity for every Nigerian, regardless of their location.
Boost local arms production: I welcome President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent declaration on the urgent need to boost local arms production and strengthen our defense institutions. Security is the foundation of development without safety, no investment, no economy, and no society can thrive. Nigeria has the brains and the hands to achieve self-sufficiency in defense technology. Institutions such as the Projects Development Institute (PRODA), Enugu, are technically equipped to add immense value in this regard.
Over a decade ago, I personally led a delegation of PRODA management at my expense, to Ventec in the United States to acquire vital technical knowledge a demonstration of my long-standing commitment to building Nigeria’s research and development capacity. It is time for government to harness this kind of expertise, empower PRODA and similar agencies, and create a strong synergy with DICON and our armed forces, so that Nigeria no longer depends excessively on foreign powers for her security
Legalize and Regulate Marijuana Plantation and Processing: Nigeria is sleeping on a potential multi-trillion Naira industry while other nations are cashing in. The global legal cannabis market is projected to exceed $100 billion by the decade’s end. It is time for Nigeria to wake up, legalise, regulate, and strategically tap into the lucrative plantation and export market of medicinal and industrial cannabis to avoid the same mistake we made with palm oil.
We are being left behind. Look at who is profiting:
- United States & Canada: A powerhouse market. Legal sales in North America reached $30 billion in 2023.
- Germany has Europe’s largest medical cannabis market, worth over €2 billion, and is moving towards full legalisation.
- Portugal and the Netherlands have become continental hubs for cultivation and export, attracting massive foreign investment.
- Israel is a world leader in cannabis research and technology, exporting high-value medical products.
- Thailand made history as the first Asian nation to legalize medical cannabis, aiming to capture a multi-billion-dollar slice of the regional market.
- Even our neighbours are moving faster. Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Malawi have established legal export frameworks, attracting international partners and generating significant new revenue for their economies.
The Nigerian Opportunity is Clear:
- Economic Diversification: Create a new, legitimate multi-billion-dollar export sector outside of oil.
- Job Creation: Generate thousands of formal jobs in agriculture, processing, logistics, research, and retail.
- Foreign Investment: Attract major international cannabis and pharmaceutical companies seeking ideal growing climates.
- Revenue Generation: Massive tax income for federal and state governments to fund infrastructure, health, and education.
- Medical Advancement: Develop a domestic medical cannabis industry to treat millions suffering from chronic pain, epilepsy, and cancer.
The question is not if the world will legalize and regulate cannabis, but when? Nigeria has the perfect climate, agricultural expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit to become a dominant player in this emerging global industry.
The world is not waiting. We must not wait any longer. It is time to legalize, industrialize, and monetize. Our economic future depends on seizing this opportunity.
Let’s cultivate prosperity. Let’s export growth. Let’s invest in Nigeria’s Green Gold.
Zoning:
I have a proposal for the way forward to create stability in governance, and that is the constitutionalization of the zoning system
To achieve lasting inclusivity and stability, our zoning arrangement must be constitutionalized. It should be made operational not just for the North and South, but to deliberately rotate the Presidency amongst the six geopolitical zones, starting with the two zones (South-East and North-East) who have not held that position since our democratic dispensation. More importantly, when it gets to any zone, the zone should be allowed to have their 8 years uninterrupted. If that person who has been elected is not doing well, the other 5 zones will impeach him, so that somebody else who is more capable from that zone can complete his tenure. This is to ensure stability, and not when one zone is ruling, another person from a different zone will jump into the ring to scatter it, thereby causing instability and unnecessary political tension. Therefore, the zoning arrangement should be constitutionalized. This ensures no zone is marginalized and guarantees that every zone presents its best and brightest in every election cycle.
Conclusion
I make the foregoing proposals as part of my patriotic contribution to the growth and development of our country. These proposals are also an effort to engender discussions that if properly examined will ultimately lead to the stabilization of our political health.
I wish to raise these issues without any partisan political bias.
As a former Senator and Labour Party Governorship candidate from Imo State, I have experienced political combat and still harbor long standing dreams for the stability of my country. I will therefore continue to promote and pursue the fulfillment of these proposals and support any government that aligns with it.
I most sincerely thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), the Nigerian Senate, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Chief. Lateef Fagbemi, for putting their foot forward in enunciating these policies which I have highlighted above.
Thank you and God bless.
By Senator Athan Nneji Achonu, Labour Party Gubernatorial Candidate in the 2023 Imo State Elections
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