Nigerian Political Scientists Association (NPSA) has said the level of national unity and cohesion is nervous and requires urgent attention.
The association also rued the high cost of living and the insecurity pervading the nation.
The body of political scientists has therefore decided to hold a conference in Lokoja, Kogi State to discuss and proffer solutions to the hydra-headed challenges confronting Nigeria.
The president of NPSA, Prof Hassan Saliu disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Ilorin, Kwara State.
“Nigeria is currently facing some challenges. The cost of living is unbearable, so also is the security situation unnerving. The level of national unity and cohesion is nervous. The story is not different from the external sector where it is apparent that there is a reduction in the level of influence that the country enjoys in inter-state relations.
“Indeed, the list of the concerns is growing, as we note the efforts of the government at all levels to steer the nation away from these concerns. As a body of intellectuals, our association is equally worried about the shape of things in our nation.
“As a response to the situation, the Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA), in keeping with its motto of promoting democracy for development, is planning to intervene once again on Nigeria’s issues.
This time around in the form of a conference. The theme of the conference is ‘Governance and Nation-Building in Nigeria: Options for Policy.’
“The association has settled for this theme because we strongly believe that all the major problems facing Nigeria are governance-induced, and the stress of nation-building being experienced, a major fallout of the governance architecture.
“Based on this conviction, the 34th Conference of our Association, holding at the Federal University, Lokoja on the 29th and 30th of April, 2024 will be devoted to interrogating the two basic issues. The objective of the conference is to come up with suggestions that can assist policy makers in overcoming the challenges. A number of sub-themes have been chosen to guide participants and achieve the objective of the conference,” the statement said.
It added that the speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abass, will be the chairman at the occasion while Vice President Kashim Shettima will be the distinguished special guest of honour.
It said a former governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi will be the keynote speaker while Prof Victor Adetula will be the lead paper presenter at the conference.
The association said it will confer the awards of Fellow of NPSA on some distinguished personalities including a former chief of staff to former President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof Ibrahim Gambari at the conference.