BY RITA OYIBOKA
AS the National Assembly advances its nationwide constitutional review exercise, the Chief Strategist to the Delta State Governor, Dr Festus Okubor has urged lawmakers to embrace far-reaching reforms that will strengthen national security, improve governance, and deliver real benefits to everyday Nigerians.
In an exclusive interview with The Pointer at his Asaba residence, Dr Okubor emphasised that the ongoing constitutional amendment must go beyond surface changes and instead, tackle deep-rooted structural challenges limiting Nigeria’s development.
“Every session of the National Assembly has sought to amend the constitution but at the end of the day, we end up with plenty talk and no movement. I believe this round will have the opportunity to be different and produce real result. “If the constitution amendments must be meaningful, then I would like to see that they are dealing with the most critical issues of this country which is security and the welfare of the people,” he said.
Recall that the Senate has scheduled simultaneous zonal public hearings on July 4 and 5, 2025, across the six geopolitical zones, while the House of Representatives is already reviewing 87 prioritised amendment bills grouped into key reform areas.
Dr Okubor further highlighted the need for a more efficient governance structure through the devolution of certain responsibilities to subnational governments.
He noted that while the federal government has made considerable efforts in managing national development, evolving realities demand that more responsibilities be reassigned to states and local governments to enhance service delivery.
“Going to the heart of the matter, there must be a devolution of powers. The Federal Government is too bloated and overloaded.
“No Federal Government in Nigeria in the next 100 can have the capacity to executive the responsibilities that the constitution places on them.
“If we do not look at the power structure, we will continue to go round this issues for the next 100 years without solution,” he said.
He proposed that core responsibilities such as primary healthcare, basic education, and local infrastructure should be handled by state and local governments, while the federal government focuses on broader policy frameworks and regulation.
On the issue of security, Okubor backed the creation of state police and even community-level policing, saying security should be a shared constitutional duty.
“We cannot continue to reject state policing out of fear of potential abuse. Rather, we should design systems that discourage misuse and swiftly punish offenders.”
The Strategist commended the federal government and the National Assembly for initiating the review and urged lawmakers to use this opportunity to reposition the country for stronger governance, inclusive development, and sustainable peace.
