Ex-Gov Urges FG To Revise Population Policy

A former governor of Edo State, Prof. Oserhiemen Osunbor, has called on the Federal Government to revise the National Population Policy to address Nigeria’s rapidly increasing population that is projected to be 200 million.
Osunbor made the call at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) Founder’s  Day Lecture and conferment of Honorary Institute Fellowship as a guest lecturer  in Abuja.
“Nigeria’s increasing population is a ticking time bomb. There is urgent need to address the threat posed by massive population  in order to achieve good governance.
“The nation’s population is undermining government’s achievements especially with regard to public safety and security.
“Good governance imposes responsibilities on government to provide for its population. Government should begin to see the issue of population  explosion as an existential threat to development  and progress,” he said.
Earlier while delivering a lecture titled: “Nigeria in quest for good governance, law and beyond law”, he defined good governance according to google, as those processes and institutions which produce results that meet the need of society  while making the best use of resources at its disposal.
He said in achieving good governance , the legislature must keep certain elements in mind in their law making and functions.
The elements are popular participation, consensus orientation, accountability, transparency, responsiveness, equity,  efficiency and anti corruption orientation which must be internalised by all segments of the society.
Osunbor, who was a Senator from 1999 to 2007,  said:”there is a need to look beyond law in order to achieve better and sustained results, it is our belief that International standards along with other non-legal initiatives should be involved to complement and strengthen the institutions that support good governance.
“ There is no magic wand or silver bullet to overcome the impediments to the realisation of good governance in Nigeria.
“ All hands must be on deck and we must continue to work at it and play our respective parts to have and enjoy good governance now and into the future, “ he said.
Earlier, the Director-General, NIALS, Prof. Muhammad Ladan welcomed the guests to the ceremony saying the event was is in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the NIALS.