From Okwe Obi, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has been urged to pay attention to the clamour for constitutional review alongside economic reconstruction.
The appeal was made known by a former Governorship Contender on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Kebbi State, Salihu Isa Nataro.
Nataro, in a statement yesterday, said that while the National Assembly should be supported to expedite action on amending the 1999 constitution, the President should stop taking further external loans to improve the economy.
The public sector reform advocate said the President should mandate Governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso, Ministers for Finance, Wale Edun and Budget, Atiku Bagudu, to represent Nigeria in a roundtable discussion to secure a multi-billion dollars loan from private sector giants like Dangote Industries, to industrialise the country rather than World Bank or IMF.
The associate member of the Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria suggested that in addition to joint supervision of investment performance, such grants or loans can be paid back in phased instalments to avoid high Loan servicing terms and the overbearing tendencies of the World Bank and IMF.
He explained that the process of improving the Economy should also involve halting government contracts except those on capital projects.
Nataro said that making a new constitution was not necessary at this point in time of Nigeria’s history in view of debilitating economic issues.
“What I think President Tinubu should do in the present circumstances is to allow the National Assembly to review and amend relevant sections of the constitution.
“Constitutional amendment can go on alongside the reconstruction of the nation’s economy, where efforts are needed to tap the untapped resources to improve the living standard of citizens.
“Similarly, Nigeria’s military must be reformed to embark on Drone research technology rather than continuing with the old practice of clutching riffles and engaging in march past during graduation.
“Modern military is now focussing on advanced technology that explores the potentials of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to make an impact,” he stated.
Nataro, who is also a public finance expert, noted that now that old systems and strategies are giving way to new solutions, Nigerians should be encouraged to provide the Tinubu administration with ideas to initiate needed reforms.
“The global economic downturn has necessitated new changes in dynamics, especially as technology has continued to prove to be very vital to national development.
“Available developmental indicators show that some of President Tinubu’s policies shows are on the right track. But, the right supportive measures are crucial if we want to see permanent progress.
“If these solutions or developments are expected within a short period of time, the country needs a fresh start by reconstructing all sectors. This new break is not in any way related to reforms as canvased by other commentators, because some of the important sectors are totally down and need full reconstruction rather than mere reformation.
“Security agencies are not protecting the citizens, but few rich individuals that divert their attention from taking responsibility to protect the citizens, thereby enabling insurgency, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
“Consequently, the security sector must be reconstructed to retrain and equip the security agents very well. So also the Education sector, which happens to be an area of concern that needs about 60 per cent of the annual budget for five years, especially if the government can recruit teachers with Masters and Ph.D, professors for our primary/secondary schools.
“These calibres of teachers should be given three months’ refresher courses on teaching methodology, but placed on same Salary structure with their counterparts in the universities, while at the same time granting full autonomy to universities,” he declared.