Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called for devolution of power to the states, rather than centralisation of governance powers and responsibilities.
The governor said employing such a strategy to tackle the challenge of inflation ravaging Nigeria’s economy, would yield the expected result.
Adeleke stated this on Sunday at the combined 10th undergraduate and 6th post-graduate convocation of the Adeleke University, Ede, where 1092 students were conferred with first degrees, masters and doctorate degrees, held at the stadium on the campus of the university.
He observed that the government was experimenting with many strategies to tackle the challenge of inflation, noting that there was an urgent need to move many items on the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list, said the states are better positioned to handle many items for which the centre is presently responsible for.
“You may also want to note that governments at different levels are working hard to address the parlous state of the economy. At the National Economic Council meetings, both the federal and the state governments regularly brainstorm on finding solutions to the economic hardship, unemployment, and hyperinflation facing the nation. Several options are being experimented on.
“For us as a state, we believe the solution lies in the devolution of powers and financing to the state governments. There is an urgent need to move many items on the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list. The states are better positioned to handle many items for which the centre is presently responsible.
“So the solution is more devolution rather than more centralisation of governance powers and responsibilities. We must, as a nation, focus on economic federalism. This will deepen subnational prosperity, create an enabling environment for job creation, and boost local capacity across the sectors.
“We must, however, continue to maintain national stability and unity. We can not escape the several issues facing us as a nation unless we harness our potential across the regions. But only when there is peace can we resolve the economic question. We will continue to support President Bola Tinubu as all levels of government grapple with the crisis of the moment,” Adeleke said.
In his admonition to the graduates, the governor urged them to take the current economic turbulence in the country as an opportunity.
He tasked them to be innovative and enterprising, saying they must tap into the turbulence to build a future of prosperity.
Delivering a commencement speech, Nigerian historian, Prof Toyin Falola, urged the graduating students to face the world without fear and turn challenges into opportunities for excellence.