A senior lecturer at the department of History and International Studies in the University of Benin, Prof. Eddy Erhagbe, has charged the Federal government to apply the rules on Federal Character clause conscientiously,
as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution at the national level to ensure that no ethnic group feels alienated or marginalised.
The don who gave the charge at the Annual May Environmental Congress organised by the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria, ERA/FoEN, in Benin City, Edo State.
According to him, “Federal Character provision as entrenched in the federal constitution should be applied at the national level and this will ensure that no group feels alienated and marginalised.
In addition, at other tiers of government, a deliberate effort should be made to be equitable in appointments and distribution of amenities.
“We strongly believe that the increase in the tempo of agitations for restructuring is largely due to the feeling of alienation and perceived marginalisation of certain sections of the country by way of appointments and distribution of facilities and resources in the country.
“It is also imperative that national integrative policies, such as the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, federal character clause, in terms of admission into Federal Unity Schools and universities should be consolidated and expanded,
instead of the current retrogressive policy of reducing the “Catchment area” for federal institutions.
“While some have tended to criticise the issue of ‘quota’ in the body politic of Nigeria, the fact remains that the policy is akin to the US policy of ‘affirmative action’ which is targeted at addressing the imbalance among groups, especially those identified as marginalised in the society.
It follows that for the sake of addressing the urgent need for ethnic harmony and integration in the country, this policy should be pursued.”
Patrick Okohue
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