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…says implementation of the Chapter II ignored since 1999
Afenifere National Publicity Secretary, Prince Justice Faloye has condemned Nigeria’s political class for ignoring ‘Chapter II’ of the Nigerian Constitution titled; the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy,’ which he says contains the blueprint for a functioning nation.
Faloye, who also, is the president of ASHE Foundation, stated that since 1999, politicians only implemented parts of the Constitution that give them power while abandoning the
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social contract in Chapter II of the Federal Constitution.
Rather than deliver security, welfare, free education and health, and a self-reliant economy, Faloye argued that leaders promoted ethnic, religious and personality-cult politics to distract citizens.
He lamented that it’s unfortunate that citizens cannot sue the government over failure to implement Chapter II, and accused successive administrations of embracing neoliberal policies imposed by foreign interests, tracing the shift to Milton Friedman’s neoclassical theories and IMF/World Bank conditionalities after the 1973 oil crisis.
Faloye cited historic education subsidy removal among others, student and labour suppression, coups, and the marginalisation of pro-people politicians as evidence of this sabotage.
The Afenifere scribe blamed neoliberal reforms for undermining projects and worsening inequality, saying President Tinubu’s post-2023 subsidy removal and devaluation followed these prescriptions, halved GDP and raised poverty from 38% to 63%.
He welcomed the Social Democratic Party (SDP) alignment with Chapter II of the Constitution and highlighted SDP presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo’s “War Against Poverty,” which he described as consistent with the chapter.
According to Faloye, the plan include a ‘Modern Monetary Theory’, financed public-works program managed by the Nigerian Defence Industries Corporation; 7,000 housing units daily to give “a roof over every head,” raising real estate’s GDP share from 5% to 20%, and building 10 kilometers of railway per day to drive industrialization and living wages.
Faloye argued that these policies would tackle Nigeria’s structural poverty, low wages in informal sectors, agricultural waste, and weak manufacturing. He noted that SDP proposals for restructuring ethnic groupings and placing the Nigerian Traditional Council in oversight roles like INEC among other institutional formations will bring positive changes to governance in the country.
The ASHE president concluded that until Chapter II of the Federal Constitution of Nigeria is implemented and allowing politics to be ideological rather than ethnic or personality-driven, Nigeria cannot function as a proper country.
