Vice President Kashim Shettima has identified a widespread lack of fiscal responsibility across all levels of government as the major challenge facing Nigeria’s federal system, rather than the system’s structure itself.
Speaking through his representative, Aliyu Modibbo, Special Adviser to the President on General Duties (Office of the Vice President), at the 17th Leadership Annual Conference and Awards held Tuesday in Abuja, Shettima reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to reforms that promote a more efficient and people-oriented federal system.
A central component of these reforms, he said, is the push for local government autonomy, being pursued through legal channels in line with recent Supreme Court pronouncements.
“There is no doubt that the Nigerian challenge, when carefully considered, lies less in the structure of our federalism and more in the deficit of our collective fiscal responsibility,” Shettima stated.
He explained that problems often blamed on Nigeria’s federal structure are largely the result of poor governance and financial mismanagement at various levels, rather than flaws in the constitution.
The Vice President cautioned against copying foreign federalism models wholesale, citing Canada, Germany, and Spain as examples of countries whose federal systems evolved based on their unique socio-political realities.
“No federal system is perfect. Each adapts to its context,” he said. “We must resist the temptation to romanticise foreign systems or prescribe imported solutions that fail to account for our distinct social, ethnic, and demographic complexities.”
Highlighting the need for honest dialogue and collective reform, Shettima called for a restructuring that reflects Nigeria’s national aspirations. He cited ongoing policy moves like fuel subsidy removal and tax reforms as proof of the administration’s dedication to building a fiscally responsible federation.
“For ordinary Nigerians—from Owerri to Sokoto—what matters is not theoretical federalism, but whether government delivers essentials like water, electricity, schools, roads, and hospitals,” he noted.
He urged leaders at all levels to manage public resources with transparency and accountability, stressing that real progress would only be achieved when “every kobo is deployed with the people’s interest in mind.”
The event also featured the recognition of individuals and organizations that have demonstrated outstanding leadership and service. Congratulating the awardees, Shettima described them as “the embodiment of the values we aspire to institutionalise: integrity, innovation, and impact.”
Also speaking at the event, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, reiterated the federal government’s commitment to press freedom.
Delivering a goodwill message, Fagbemi said his attendance symbolised the Tinubu administration’s respect for journalistic freedom.
“My being here as Attorney-General of the Federation is also a statement of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, particularly under the able leadership of President Bola Tinubu,” he said, “that we do not tamper with free press.”
