By David Odama
Prince Adewole Adebayo, presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has called for a fundamental overhaul of Nigeria’s approach to governance, proposing that Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution become the foundation for government policies, budgets and programmes.
Adebayo made the proposal in his 2027–2031 governance blueprints, Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity, where he argued that the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy should no longer be treated as merely aspirational provisions.
He said Chapter II must become an operational guide for government, with public institutions required to demonstrate how their policies and spending advance the constitutional objectives of improving citizens’ welfare and strengthening the country.
Under the proposed framework, policies, projects, programmes, budgets and institutional reforms would be assessed against objectives including national security, social justice, democracy, national integration, economic development, human dignity, equal opportunity, education, environmental protection and accountable governance.
Adebayo argued that the success of government should not be measured by the number of projects announced or commissioned, but by tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
He identified security, food security, healthcare, education, housing, employment, potable water, energy, transportation, justice and digital access as practical indicators that should determine whether a government is delivering on its mandate.
The SDP candidate proposed that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) should be required to identify the specific constitutional objectives their major programmes are designed to achieve and publish measurable outcomes.
According to him, the approach would establish a results-based system in which public expenditure is directly linked to constitutional responsibilities and citizens’ welfare.
The proposal draws heavily on Section 13 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that all organs and authorities exercising legislative, executive or judicial powers must conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter II.
Adebayo’s blueprint identifies the security and welfare of Nigerians as the central purpose of government, alongside national integration, social justice, economic self-reliance, human dignity, education, environmental protection and accountability.
He therefore presented the proposal as more than another policy document, saying it represents a new standard for evaluating government performance.
The central test, according to the blueprint, should be whether government policies make Nigerians safer, healthier, more productive and economically secure.
Adebayo’s proposal puts the constitutional objectives of state policy at the centre of the 2027–2031 political debate, urging Nigerians to assess future governments by measurable improvements in their quality of life rather than by campaign promises or the volume of projects announced.
