America is structured in such a way that states must look inwards to exploit their wealth for the good of its citizens. There is no free lunch for the lazy states.
There certainly is no common wealth. But you get your wealth if you can create it. Under America Federation, you are the captain of your ship. But again, you are also the waves upon which the ship will sail.
The local government, the government closet to the grassroot, is deliberately made the strongest level of government. Items like variances ( adaptation of state law to local conditions) public works, contractors for public works, Licensing of public accommodations, Assessable improvements, Basic Public Services, are all left for local government to handle.
The state handles weignhtier matters like Property Law, Education, Commerce Laws, Banking etc. While Federal Government, the Center, handles issues affecting the states.
Nigeria on the contrary are not doing all these we can only do these only when we restructure. We pretend to have a federal system but we are actually operating a unique form of unitary government, and it is weighing the polity down.
Our Country's Education's Curriculum is regulated by a national central body and states have no powers to vary or amend their Curriculum?
We need to revisit the exclusive Legislative list in the Constitution and systematically reduce the responsibilities of the Federal Government vis-à-vis the states.
Resources have to be handed back to the states that generated them but place an obligation on each States to contribute an agreed percentage to the common federal purse to service obligations of the federal government.
There is no reason Education, Policing, Prisons (only people convicted of federal offenses should go to federal prisons!!!) Ports, Inland Waterways, Natural Minerals, even marriage and so many other items should be the concern of the Federal Government.
We will not develop with such weight that weigh us down at the center. Nigeria will not raise its head in the comity of nations because of the sheer weight of the head. There is no reason to fight for oil in the Niger-Delta. There are so many things that can bring more revenue to the states in Nigeria than oil.
South Africa has no oil but Gold, and us richer than Nigeria. We should all fight for a system that will promote both equality and equity.
RPI................Mission Rekindled.
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