New constitution for Nigeria necessary but not urgent – NPSA

The Nigerian Political Science Association, NPSA, has declared that a new constitution for Nigeria is necessary but not urgent.

The NPSA in a statement by the President, Prof Hassan Saliu, argued that Nigeria’s problems stemmed from the unwillingness to adhere to moral and ethical standards, rather than the constitution itself.

The statement titled ‘Necessary but Not Urgent’ noted that the recent visit by the Patriots to the President at Aso Rock on August 9, 2024 has reignited discussions on Nigeria’s challenges in fulfilling its potential as a shining democratic nation.

“The Patriots emphasized the failure of the 1999 Constitution as amended, imposed by the military, as the primary cause of widespread discontent.

“They advocated for a new constitution derived from the people to drive progress. However, another group, represented by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, prioritizes value reorientation over a new constitution, arguing that a flawed value system undermines progress.”

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The NPSA, while acknowledging the validity of both perspectives suggested that Nigeria’s problems stemmed from the unwillingness to adhere to moral and ethical standards, rather than the constitution itself.

It proposed addressing fundamental attitudinal issues before attempting to write a new constitution.

According to the body, “Our reasons include among others, high costs in a corrupt environment, time-consuming processes, pressing emergencies like hunger and poverty.”

The current constitution, it further argued could be amended and improved upon as loopholes are exploited by operators for personal gains, while political actors may not follow a new constitution.

The NPSA also complained about

unchecked corruption and rubber-stamping legislature, ineffective laws and agencies as well as judicial officers’ questionable pronouncements and unimplemented provisions for citizens’ welfare.

The association said reaching a consensus on a new constitution will be a tall order as an elaborate process of drafting a new constitution will lead to many troubling concerns, because the

operators of the constitution are the issue.

The body noted that there is no perfect constitution anywhere in the world, “not everything wrong with Nigeria is constitutional in nature.

“We should leverage the good aspects of the current constitution to address existential challenges.

“Ultimately, a constitution’s spirit and unwritten national values, rather than its content, drive a nation’s progress.”