• Faults insincere calls for true federalism
The Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, has faulted arguments by some state governors for true federalism.Shittu, who described the helmsmen as autocratic, said they lack moral right to ask for additional funding, having failed to conduct local government elections.

At the 40th anniversary of the Department of Psychology, University of Ibadan (UI), last Friday, the Minister said: “I want to challenge all those who are asking for true federalism to give us the definition of what constitutes true federalism and list out those things that would make us attain true federalism.

“I want to say, with due respect to most of our state governors, particularly those who continue to agitate for true federalism, but have no better examples laid in their various states, it is unfortunate.

“Most governors have refused to conduct local government elections, which would make the councils really democratic. Instead, they appoint interim chairmen, with the aim of strangulating the local government system, with regards to their funding and those who should be in care. They should first provide the best in liberality to those under them before asking for more funds in the guise of calling for true federalism.”

The Secretary to the Ondo State government, Aderotimi Adelola, said if the change agenda is to have any meaning, it must reflect true federalism by devolving powers to states.

The coordinator, southwest zone, Nigeria Psychological Association, Peter Olapegba, said the Department of Psychology at UI has the highest number of professors on the field and urged the Federal Government to leverage on this, to enhance national life.