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Nigeria needs new Constitution, not amendments – Ezekwesili

A former Minister of Education and Chief Executive Officer of Human Capital Africa, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, on Thursday knocked the National Assembly over its ongoing constitutional amendment efforts, which she described as a charade and a conduit pipe to waste public funds.
Ezekwesili lamented that Nigeria’s political space, along with much of Africa’s, has been hijacked by what she called a criminal enterprise gang that now dictates the direction of governance in their interest, while the welfare of the larger populace suffers.
The former minister stated this on Thursday in her keynote address, titled “Reworking Nigeria’s Federalism: Perspectives on Restructuring and Fiscal Federalism,” delivered at the 7th Penpushing Anniversary and Annual Lecture in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
She argued that instead of heeding widespread demands for a new constitution capable of correcting imbalances and inequalities in the current system, the National Assembly chose to pursue a process that would yield little or no meaningful change.
Ezekwesili explained that agitations for secession, widespread insecurity, unemployment, poverty, and poor governance could only be addressed through a people-driven constitution that guaranteed devolution of powers, equity, and justice across ethnic and regional lines.
“The ongoing constitutional amendment cannot work; it cannot address our problem. It is a charade and a sheer waste of resources.
The demand for a new constitution is a matter of life and death,” she said.
Using a construction analogy, she stressed the futility of trying to fix a flawed structure with patchwork solutions.
“For instance, when the engineer tells us that the foundation of a building is structurally defective, is it not to take the whole building down? Because it will continue to constitute an endangerment to the people.
“You won’t say, ‘Oga, can we just do some little adjustment to the building?’ No, it won’t work.
“And this is the same with nation-building. So this expensive charade that the National Assembly is embarking on and spending money on won’t take us anywhere,” she added.
Ezekwesili called on the media to take the lead in advocating for a new constitution that reflects the will of the people.
“The media should take the front seat and be at the vanguard of a demand for a new constitution.
“We must have a constitutional conference that enables the people of this country to have honest conversations around things that will make us make progress and make Nigeria work for all of us.
“If there is anything that will come out of this annual lecture, it must be that the media should be at the vanguard of a push for a constitutional conference, one that will enable the constituent parts of this country, a constituent assembly elected by the people, to sit, discuss the issues that make fiscal federalism work, and come out with proposals eligible for a constitution, which will then be put before the people to vote on in a referendum.
“This is what Kenya did after almost collapsing. Since then, you never hear them talking about break-ups, they talk about the need for good leaders.”
Ezekwesili emphasised that good governance is not a mystery and can be replicated in Nigeria if the political will exists.
“There is nothing mysterious about good governance. This thing has been done elsewhere and could be replicated here in the country.
“Unfortunately, today’s politics has been hijacked. What we now have is a criminal enterprise gang, and this is not only in Nigeria but across the continent.
“A criminal enterprise gang has taken hold of politics and excluded society. These people just sit at the table and slice governance in the direction that suits them. But that must not be allowed to continue,” she added.
The former minister also linked the quality of politics to the economic development of nations, warning that no real progress could be made in Africa without significant improvement in the quality of political leadership.
According to her, a true fiscal federal structure would not only promote regional autonomy and accountability but also satisfy demands for self-determination without jeopardising the unity of the country.
“Fiscal federalism will boost productivity, improve leadership capacity, and foster genuine collaboration among the regions,” she said.
Also speaking at the event, the immediate-past Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Amb Sarafadeen Ishola, stated that Nigeria’s current federalism, while adopted in principle, failed in practice.
“It neither delivers the autonomy expected by the federating units nor promotes the developmental competition required for national growth,” he said.
Amb Ishola, who chaired the occasion, emphasised that true federalism entailed not just devolution of power but also responsible governance, institutional clarity, fiscal equity, and citizen-driven accountability.
“Nigerians must not see restructuring as a sectional agenda but embrace it as a national rebirth strategy to address key challenges facing the country,” he added.
Earlier, the founder of Penpushing Media, an online platform, Mr Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, said the annual lecture was designed to elevate national discourse and inspire solutions to Nigeria’s most pressing problems.
He said Penpushing Media continued to grow while contributing significantly to improving the national narrative through credible journalism and impactful philanthropic activities.
He added that the platform had helped train over 80 Mass Communication students from various institutions and instituted an annual award for the best graduating students in the field.
The event also featured goodwill messages from former spokesman to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Femi Adesina; Chair of the Penpushing Editorial Board and former Lagos NUJ Chair, Funke Fadugba; and the Planning Committee Chair, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, among others.
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Beautiful and Well Equipped Medical Health Centre Built by Atanda Lawal in Obalende/Ikoyi Local Government Area

This is what another local government chairman has done in Obalende with his own increased allocations paid directly to him.
This is the result of the new social reorder; place the money for development in the hands of the authorities closer to the everyday people.
Tinubu has done his own, and if you cannot ask your individual local authorities what they have done with their allocations, that is your own irresponsibility as a citizen.
Remember, the amount each of the 774 authorities receive is published every month for all eyes to see.
Grassroot developments have begun, and it will only get better with time.
No more na governor chop money.
Hold your governors and LG chairmen by the neck.
They must deliver EVERYTHING IS NOT TINUBU !!!
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Gombe gov assures corps members of safety, welfare

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the safety and welfare of National Youth Service Corps members posted to the state, assuring them of a peaceful and enabling environment throughout their service year.
Our correspondent reports that no fewer than 940 corps members took the oath of allegiance marking their formal admission into the mandatory three-week orientation course.
The governor made the pledge on Friday, during the formal swearing-in ceremony of the 2025 Batch ‘B’ Stream I corps members held at the NYSC Temporary Orientation Camp, Government Science Technical College, Amada, in Akko Local Government Area.
Represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development / Chairman, NYSC State Governing Board, Inuwa Ibrahim welcomed the corps members to the “Jewel in the Savannah.
Governor Yahaya described Gombe as a “safe haven,” stressing that his administration places high priority on youth development, peace, and security.
“We guarantee a conducive working environment for your activities and programmes during your service year,” he said. “Let me assure you of our unwavering commitment to your welfare, security, and general well-being.”
The governor, who congratulated the new corps members on their successful academic journey and induction into national service, advised them to take the orientation course seriously, as it lays the foundation for a purposeful service year.
“The orientation course is designed to introduce you to the objectives of the NYSC. I urge you to participate actively and take advantage of the teachings and training to develop your potential,” he stated.
Yahaya encouraged the corps members to integrate into their host communities and contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the state.
“As you serve in Gombe, I encourage you to be part of our developmental efforts and help in empowering the youth. Your predecessors left positive footprints, and it’s our collective responsibility to continue building on that legacy,” he added.
The governor also commended the NYSC scheme for promoting national unity over the past 50 years and appreciated partner agencies and stakeholders for their continued support of the scheme in the state.
He concluded by declaring the orientation course officially open and wished the corps members a fruitful, impactful, and incident-free service year.
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JUST IN: Striking nurses suspend industrial action – Health Minister

The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives has called off its warning strike, the Minister of Health, Ali Pate, announced on Friday.
Speaking to journalists after a closed-door meeting in Abuja, Pate said the decision followed agreements reached between the government and the association’s leadership.
However, union leaders declined to speak to the press after the meeting.
Nurses and midwives under the association had begun a nationwide warning strike on July 29 over unmet demands, including improved welfare, fair allowances, and better working conditions in federal health institutions.
The strike, which affected public health institutions across the country, was scheduled to last until August 5.
The union’s National Chairman, Morakinyo Rilwan, had previously accused the Federal Government of failing to engage with the association during the 15-day ultimatum issued on July 14.
“As far as we are concerned, there has been no communication from the government to this moment. That is why we are saying the strike is going on, and nothing is stopping it.
“Even if the government calls today or tomorrow, it won’t stop the strike. They had enough time,” Rilwan had said.
The association is demanding an upward review of shift and uniform allowances, implementation of a separate salary structure for nurses, increased core duty allowance, mass employment of nurses, and the creation of a dedicated nursing department in the Federal Ministry of Health.
Rilwan had also said the decision to embark on the strike was driven by widespread frustration among members over years of neglect.
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