Waziri Adio: Nigerians need restructuring of the mind

Waziri Adio, former executive secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), says Nigeria needs the restructuring of the mind.

The journalist and policy strategist, spoke when he featured on Prime Time, a programme on Arise Television.

In recent times, there have been calls for Nigeria to be restructured so that more powers are devolved to states and local governments.

Adio said Nigerians need “animated spirits” to make the country work.

“The whole idea of restructuring — the way I understand it — is that the structure that you have is not working and you need to change it. I am not saying that certain changes should not be made, but the problem with Nigeria is not the system that we practice, it is the Nigerians themselves,” he said.

“You can have the best — we were practising the parliamentary system, we said that was not fit for us and we went for the presidential system. But you borrow the structure and leave the animated spirit behind it. We need the restructuring of the minds much more than the system.

“Most of the things they are talking about is to reduce the federal government and devolve powers to states. The assumption is that the capacity is there or that responsibility will follow capacity. They are more interested in moving resources.”

Speaking on Agora Policy, a think-thank non-profit he recently launched to find practical solutions to urgent national challenges, Adio said the first project is about the 2023 general election.

He said the policy brief which will be released before the political campaigns begin, is focused on the “informed, inclusive, and accountable public policy projects”.

“There are important issues we need to discuss leading to the elections; there are important issues we need to face after the elections. They are central to the survival of this country so we need to go beyond the usual stuff that candidates give us. Let’s look at the issues, and policy options. We want to focus on the economy, security, transparency and accountability, and social political and gender inclusion in Nigeria,” he added.