By Ebun Sessou

lagos—Renowned constitutional lawyer, Professor Itsay Sagay and human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana have called for true federalism in Nigeria, saying that the way the country is being currently run would stifle development.

Speaking as guest lecturers at the first anniversary of the 8th Lagos State House of Assembly with the theme: “Lagos State In A True Federalism And State Police,” yesterday, the two Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) agreed that Nigeria needs both political and fiscal federalism for rapid development.

Sagay observed in his lecture, that the constitution of Nigeria should be a reflection of its historical development, adding that Nigeria’s federalism is too centralised and is limiting the development of the country.

He maintained that each state  ought to enjoy a measure of real autonomy in a true federal structure and that governments have horizontal relationships in a federal system of government. Sagay stated that in a federal system of government, Lagos State should control the Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports, and that even if they are controlled by the Federal Government, the state should get 13percent derivation.

All these were corroborated by the second guest speaker, Mr. Femi Falana, who added that the local government system as practiced in Nigeria is a bastardisation of federalism. Falana said the constitution of Nigeria makes it clear that the Federal Government should provide security for the people, but that social security is the most important aspect of security.

Falana commended the Lagos State Government, which he said fought for restructuring in Nigeria through litigation under ex-governor of the state, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He stressed that it was not only in Lagos State that local councils were created in the era of former president Olusegun Obasanjo, but that it was the only state that did not obey the order of Obasanjo to go back to the status quo.