As President Bola Tinubu marks one year in office, former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, has advised him to concentrate on crucial areas that would have the most significant impact such as security, power and initiating an emergency industrial revolution.
Agbakoba, who spoke in Lagos at a press conference organised to assess the president’s first year in office, also urged him to increase his pace.
The senior lawyer said the current pace of implementation of government policies is slow, and Nigerians want to see urgency and decisiveness from his government.
He maintained that President Tinubu should lead from the front, setting the tone and driving the execution of his agenda with unwavering commitment.
Agbakoba stated; “President Tinubu’s first year in office has laid the groundwork for significant progress, with notable achievements in various sectors. The right policy choices have been implemented, but implementation has been challenging.
“To fully realise his transformative vision and deliver on his campaign promises, the government must focus on critical areas that will make the most impact, such as security, power, and an emergency industrial revolution. If Tinubu can solve these vital issues, it will release kinetic energy and accelerate progress,” he said.
The lawyer also said the president must prioritise establishing a solid foundation of national order, unity, peace, and stability as a prerequisite for sustainable development.
He further urged Tinubu to facilitate a historic agreement akin to the Treaty of Westphalia by engaging with ethnic groups, the National Assembly and diverse stakeholders to resolve fundamental questions around Nigeria’s political identity and arrangements for living together as one united entity.
The senior advocate also called on the president to strengthen governance through constitutional reform by overhauling Nigeria’s governance framework by spearheading the replacement of the 1999 Constitution with a new constitution that devolves powers, promotes unity, and strengthens democratic institutions.
He noted that the constitutional reform process can incorporate public service reforms, judicial reforms, and measures to empower regulatory agencies for long-term good governance.