The Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA) has called on the Nigerian Government to follow in the steps of other countries and join Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) alliance.
BRICS was created as fast-growing economies that would collectively dominate the global economy by 2050.
In a communique issued by its president, Prof. Hassan A. Saliu, at the end of its agenda-setting meeting for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the group also urged the government to come up with urgent policies that would rebuild the country.
NPSA believed that the country’s affairs should be conducted in ways that reflect the spirit and letter of the Nigerian Constitution, which provides for a President that emerges from an election that takes the whole country as one constituency.
“Nigeria should also put its feet firmly in the emerging BRICS alliance and not remain as an on-looker.
“In this regard, geopolitical realities at global and regional levels have made it even more compelling for Nigeria to adjust to the emerging New World Order.
“It is therefore obvious that Nigeria must join BRICS and demonstrate active interest and participation in the African Union, ECOWAS and the Africa Free Trade Area for it to be seen in the mainstream international relations and cash in on the gains that go with it.”
The communique further stressed the need for the federal government to review the inter- governmental relations system for effective governance at all levels, while urging the security agencies to work as members of the same family and make deliberate and conscious efforts to secure and share timely intelligence for effective operations.
“The NPSA has observed that the future of democracy in Nigeria will be much brighter and even more robust if the country embarks on far-reaching reforms of its political and electoral processes. However, the reforms being envisaged should be made incrementally and conscientiously to facilitate and deepen democratic governance in the country.
“One of the areas that we think needs attention is the strengthening of the political party system to enable the parties to function as critical stakeholders in the Nigerian political system.
“Accordingly, there is a need to re-introduce the Office of the Special Adviser on Inter-Party Relations in the office of the president as was the practice in the past,” it said.
