TOPIC: RESTRUCTURING OF NIGERIA FROM A STUDENT’S POINT OF VIEW

Nigeria is a complex country with a long history of colonialism, corruption, political instability, and
economic underdevelopment. The country is balancing on a knife edge. The best way forward seems to
be a change in the structure of government within the country. Despite being blessed with abundant
natural resources, the country has struggled to translate these resources into sustainable economic
growth and development. One possible solution to this problem is restructuring the country to ensure
that power and resources are more evenly distributed.

I’m Fakoyede Oluwapamilerin Oyindamola, a student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko,

Ondo State. A part of the Yoruba Ethnic group of Nigeria present this position paper on the restructuring
of Nigeria.

During an interview between Agbo, Ochonu & Kperogi in Premium Times news, they discussed the
topic, “RESTRUCTURING NIGERIA: AN EXISTENTIAL IMPERATIVE OR MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING?”

“The problem with talking about restructuring is that it has been discussed to death and has become a
political football that politicians play every election cycle to win the support of the Nigerian intellectual
and middle classes who, since the 1990s, have been advancing restructuring in various mutating forms.”

There are several areas where restructuring could be useful but I personally will love to discuss mostly
on the political and educational restructuring of Nigeria, for that aspect has a great impact in the
development of the Nigeria as a whole, despite her “ unholy marriage” as the amalgamation of 1914 is
being called.

A)Political Restructuring
There is a need to review the political structure of Nigeria to make it more inclusive and to ensure that
power is being distributed more evenly. This involves reviewing the current federalism structure and
ensuring that the interests of all ethnic groups are represented. Nigeria has faced challenges since its
independence in 1960

One of the main arguments for restructuring Nigeria is that the current structure of government is not
working. The current political system in Nigeria is a federal system of government with 36 states and
one federal capital territory. However, there have been calls for political restructuring in Nigeria to
address issues such as marginalization, inequality, and ethnic tensions. Many people feel that this
structure is unbalanced, with too much power concentrated in the central government. This, in turn, has
led to a sense of alienation among many of the country's minority groups.

There have been several proposals for how Nigeria's political structure could be reformed. One idea is to
move from a federal system to a more decentralized one, with more power given to the states. This
could help to address some of the concerns about centralization and lead to better governance at the
local level.
Another proposal is to adopt a system of regional government, which would allow the various regions of
Nigeria to have more autonomy. Regional government has been successful in other parts of the world,
such as Europe, and could help to address some of the concerns around resource control and the
allocation. Political restructuring seeks to correct what some people believe are fundamental flaws in
the country's political system. There are so many ways to go about the political restructuring of Nigeria,
among so, we have;

1) Decentralization of power

One of the most significant aspects of political restructuring in Nigeria would be devolving power from
the central government to the state governments. Currently, the central government has too much
control over resources and decision-making, making it difficult for states to develop and build on their
own strengths and resources.

Decentralization of power would help to ensure that the various regions of Nigeria benefit from their
unique strengths and resources. This way, the regions can leverage their resources to improve their
quality of life, providing better education, healthcare, infrastructure, and security.

2) Fiscal Federalism

Nigeria is a country with diverse ethnic groups and cultures. As a part of the Yoruba ethnic group, there
is the need for a political system that can ensure adequate representation of all groups. Fiscal federalism
deals with the distribution of revenues, taxes, and other financial resources between different levels of
government. The idea is to ensure that all ethnic groups, regions or states of Nigeria can get a fair share
of resources from the central government, based on their needs and contributions.

Establishing a fairer distribution system will help to reduce the sense of marginalization and promote
the drive towards economic development, and encourage equal participation in the country's politics.

3) National Conference

A National Conference is another potential avenue towards political restructuring in Nigeria. The
conference can be a platform for the different ethnic groups in Nigeria to discuss and decide on
fundamental issues concerning the nation's political structure.

The conference provides an avenue to discuss issues such as the structure and form of government, the
distribution of power and resources, equal representation, and allocation of seats in the National
Assembly.

4. Constitutional Reform

Constitutional reform is also essential to a restructuring political system. The current constitution in
Nigeria was written during military rule and thus does not reflect the values of a democratic society. A
review with the input of experts and the people can help to address key areas requiring improvements.
Constitutional reform provides an opportunity to address issues such as the structure and composition
of government, leadership selection, resource distribution, and the resolution of ethnic disputes.

5. Electoral Reform

Political reform would not be complete without electoral reform. Electoral reform would help to ensure
free and fair elections through the use of technology, security, regulations, and effective enforcement of
the law. One of the goals of electoral reform is to eliminate voter intimidation, party influence, and
violence that has marked previous elections in Nigeria, in order to ensure that Nigerian citizens can
afford a level playing field when it comes to casting their votes.

B)Educational Restructuring:
Nigeria lately has been a bedrock for restructuring calls. In this sea of displeasure, nothing has been said
on the of the education industry. Given the state of affairs, I argue that there is a need for restructuring
for the Nigerian educational system. Nigeria currently ranks low in terms of education. Restructuring the
educational system will go a long way in improving the quality of education in the country. The fact is,
education is an industry seen as the last bus stop. This can be proven by the entry requirements which
are the lowest in comparison to universities and polytechnics. In Universities Education courses are also
the easiest to gain admission to. The lowest scorers are pushed there.

Nigeria's educational system is in dire need of restructuring. This involves investing more in education,
reviewing the curriculum to suit the current reality and investing in teacher training. The structure of
formal education system in Nigeria has four levels, namely: Pre-primary, Primary, Secondary (Junior and
Senior) and Tertiary.

Since the adoption of the 6-3-3-4 system of education in 1982, the country's education sector has been
plagued by numerous challenges such as inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, low teacher morale,
and a mismatch between the skills of graduates and the needs of employers. Therefore, there is an
urgent need for educational restructuring to address these issues and ensure that Nigeria's education
system can meet the needs of the country's growing population and economy.

1. Funding

Increased funding is essential for improving Nigeria's education system. The country's budget for
education has consistently fallen short of the recommended benchmark of 15% of the national budget,
with only 6% of the budget allocated to education in 2020. This inadequate funding has contributed to a
lack of resources for infrastructure development, teacher training, and learning materials.

To address this challenge, there is a need for the government to allocate more funds to education and
ensure that these funds are channeled towards priority areas such as teacher training, curriculum
development, and the construction of new schools.
2. Curriculum Development

Another aspect of educational restructuring that is necessary is the development of a curriculum that is
relevant to the needs of the Nigerian society. The current curriculum is outdated and does not reflect
the realities of contemporary Nigeria. This has resulted in a mismatch between the skills of graduates
and the needs of employers, which has contributed to a high rate of youth unemployment.

The curriculum should be revised to ensure that it is more relevant to the needs of the Nigerian society.
This can be achieved by introducing courses in entrepreneurship, technology, and other marketable
skills that will enable graduates to create jobs rather than seek employment.

3. Increased collaboration between the education sector and the private sector

To further improve the quality of education in Nigeria, there is a need for more collaboration between
the education sector and the private sector. The private sector can provide funding, support, and
expertise to the education sector to improve the quality of teaching, learning materials, and
infrastructure.

The private sector can also help to bridge the skills gap by providing training and job opportunities for
Nigerian graduates, which will reduce the level of unemployment in the country.

4. Development of Vocational training

The development of vocational training programs and technical colleges is essential for the economic
growth and development of Nigeria. These programs will provide graduates with marketable skills that
are in high demand and will help to reduce the level of unemployment.

This can be achieved by establishing more vocational training centers and technical colleges that are
equipped with modern facilities, specialized equipment, and qualified instructors.

5. Teacher Training and Development

Our colleges of education are a travesty. Teachers are the worst trained professionals in the country.
Teacher training and development are critical components of educational restructuring. The quality of
education in Nigeria is largely dependent on the quality of teachers. Therefore, there is a need to
provide ongoing training and development programs for teachers to improve their skills and knowledge.

These programs should include training in teaching methods, curriculum development, and the effective
use of technology in teaching and learning.
There are many other areas in the Nigerian sectors that require restructuring ;

1. Economic restructuring

Many people argue that Nigeria's economic structure is also in need of reform. The country is currently
heavily dependent on oil exports, which can be volatile and subject to changes in global demand.
Additionally, there are concerns that the proceeds from oil exports are not being distributed equitably,
leading to regional inequalities and corruption.

One solution to this problem is to diversify the Nigerian economy by focusing on other sectors such as
agriculture, manufacturing, and services. This could create new jobs and opportunities and reduce the
country's dependence on oil exports.

Another possible solution is to focus on developing Nigeria's infrastructure. The country currently lags
behind others in terms of its transportation networks, power supply, and telecommunications
infrastructure. Investing in these areas could help to attract more investors and create a more
prosperous and competitive Nigerian economy.

2. Security restructuring

Nigeria has long been plagued by security challenges, particularly in the north-eastern part of the
country, where the extremist group Boko Haram has been active. These security challenges have had a
significant impact on the country's stability and economic growth.

Restructuring the security sector could help to address some of these concerns. This could involve
investing more in the military and police forces, improving intelligence gathering, and improving the
coordination between different security agencies.

Another key issue is the effective policing of Nigeria's borders. There are concerns that border security is
not adequately enforced, leading to the smuggling of goods and the movement of people.

3. Environmental restructuring

Environmental degradation is a major concern in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta region, where oil
exploration has had significant impacts on the local environment and communities. The government
needs to take steps to address these environmental concerns.

This could involve investing in alternative sources of energy, such as solar and wind power, and
promoting policies that encourage sustainable farming practices and protect natural resources.
CONCLUSION

The political restructuring of Nigeria can be a daunting task, given Nigeria's enormous diversity, but it is
not impossible. By placing a greater emphasis on the decentralization of power, fiscal federalism, the
national conference, constitutional reform, and electoral reform, Nigerians can help to create a political
system that is more equitable, representative, and free from violence and disorder. This would pave the
way for long-term stability, peace and improved social and economic growth in Nigeria.

And also, educational restructuring is crucial for the growth and development of Nigeria. Increased
funding, curriculum development, collaboration between the education sector and the private sector,
the development of vocational training, and teacher training and development are critical areas that
require urgent attention. The successful implementation of educational restructuring will help to ensure
that Nigeria's education system equips students with the skills necessary to meet the needs of the
country's growing economy, reduce the level of youth unemployment and promote social and economic
development in the country.

However, Nigeria continues to face challenges in its economic restructuring efforts, such as inadequate
infrastructure, corruption, and an over-reliance on oil revenue. The COVID-19 pandemic has also had
significant impacts on the country's economy, highlighting the need for further economic diversification
and resilience. Political restructuring could help to address issues of power and resource allocation,
while economic restructuring could help to diversify the economy and develop critical infrastructure.
Security and environmental restructuring could also help to address some of the other challenges that
the country faces.

In conclusion, Nigeria needs to be restructured to enable it to take advantage of its abundant natural
and human resources. This will require a concerted effort on the part of the government, civil society,
and the private sector to address the challenges that have been holding the country back.

Overall, Nigeria has enormous potential, but this potential can only be realized if the country embraces
restructuring and makes the necessary changes to create a more stable, prosperous, and inclusive
society.
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