2023: Would-be President Must Ensure Local Government Autonomy To Succeed – NPSA

The Nigerian Political Science Association, NPSA, wants citizens to discern political parties on the basis of credibility of candidates and not religion.

President, Nigerian Political Science Association, Professor Hassan Saliu stated this at a media chat organized by the association in Ilorin.

Professor Saliu who was responding to questions from journalists on the imperative mood assumed by religion in the country’s political space advised electorates to place premium on competence, track record and unifying ability of each candidate to choose their next leader(s).

He called on youth to translate their active involvement in social media to physical engagement in the electoral process, noting that youthful political enterprises would bridge the gap between the leaders and the led.

” Political exclusion is the major reason for insecurity in the country, there’s need to make the environment secured at all times and particularly for the forth coming election.

“Government at all levels needs to address the menace of poverty, the higher the level of poverty, the lesser the chances of democratic consolidation, Saliu said. “

The NPSA equally offered the following recommendations to would-be President of the country;

i. Respect for rule of law and fundamental human right of every citizen.

ii. Organize consistent dialogue with various agitators and address the fundamentals of their agitation in order to bring peace to the society.

iii. Respect the constitutional provision of each federate unit in Nigeria’s federal system.

iv. The incoming President should make it a cardinal mandate to revitalize the Local Government structure, and insistently ensure full autonomy for the Local Government.

v. Get seriously involved in the establishment of small scale industries to create jobs for the citizens.

These are what Nigerians should look out for in their Next President, they should vote for whoever can ensure these critical demands that are central to peace and development of our society, he added.”

Earlier, Secretary of the Association, Dr. Adebola Bakare had reiterated the commitment of NPSA to promote democracy and development in Nigeria through regular crossbreeding of ideas between researchers and public policy makers.