Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Nigerians across all sectors—citizens, leaders, and institutions—to embrace patriotism as the cornerstone for building a federal system that truly serves the people. He emphasized that Nigeria’s governance challenges are more rooted in mismanagement than in the country’s constitutional framework.
Speaking through his representative, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo, Special Adviser to the President on General Duties (Office of the Vice President), Shettima delivered the remarks during the 7th annual LEADERSHIP Conference & Awards at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.
According to Shettima, while the structure of Nigeria’s federalism often draws criticism, the real issue lies in a lack of collective fiscal responsibility. “The problem isn’t the framework, it’s the way we manage our resources,” he stated.
A statement by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications, noted Shettima’s warning against blindly replicating Western federal models. “We must resist the temptation to romanticise foreign systems,” Shettima said. “Imported solutions that overlook our ethnic, social, and demographic complexities are doomed to fail.”
He highlighted the Tinubu administration’s push for reforms—including local government autonomy—as crucial to improving federal governance. Citing recent Supreme Court rulings supporting local autonomy, Shettima said this legal backing reflects a broader commitment to strengthening governance at the grassroots level.
Among other initiatives, he pointed to subsidy removal and tax reforms as efforts to stabilize public finances and enhance state-level participation in fiscal policymaking. “Our goal is a federation that is fiscally responsible and inclusive,” he said.
Shettima also praised the LEADERSHIP Media Group for fostering dialogue and celebrating excellence, urging awardees to view their recognition not just as an accolade, but as a renewed mandate to serve.
“Today’s honour,” he said, “is both a celebration and a call to duty.”
