Nigerians are increasingly advocating for a return to the regional system of government, known as the parliamentary system, during the National Assembly’s ongoing constitutional amendment process.
The Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendment has received 56 memoranda, with key issues including calls for regional government, unicameral legislature, local government autonomy, state police, gender equality, and the inclusion of traditional rulers in the constitution. In total, 474 clauses are under consideration.
Southern Nigeria has seen a significant push for regional government, spurred by a draft bill proposed by Dr. Akin Fapohunda. Titled “A Bill for an Act to Substitute the Annexure to Decree 24 of 1999 with a New Governance Model for the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” it proposes a new governance model, officially codified as “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria: New Governance Model for Nigeria Act 2024.”
Key Memoranda Submissions
The Kwara South Consultative Forum called for a return to the regional system, advocating for a reintroduction of the regional constitution and a shift from the bicameral legislature to a regional assembly. Similarly, the All Middle Belt Youth Forum proposed a return to the parliamentary system and recommended discarding Nigeria’s current geopolitical zones.
The *EGI Professors and Academic Doctors Forum* backed devolution of power from the center to local levels, arguing that the federal structure is too centralized. The *Okun Development Association* echoed these views, calling for restructuring the central government into regional federating units with economic autonomy.
The Ijaw National Congress and Bayelsa State Elders Council supported regionalism, proposing the establishment of 10 regions, with each region managing its resources and contributing taxes to the federal government.
Opposing Views and Political Debate
Not all stakeholders support regionalism. The Southern Kaduna People’s Union advocated for maintaining Nigeria’s federal structure but suggested creating eight geopolitical zones, including Middle Belt West and East. Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, expressed strong opposition to regional government, arguing that Nigeria’s current constitution is the supreme law. He questioned the legitimacy of groups pushing for ethnic representation, stressing that only the National Assembly has the mandate to amend the constitution.
Senator Muntari Dandutse of Katsina South urged Nigeria to focus on good governance, arguing that regionalism is not the solution. He emphasized the importance of responsible leadership and fair resource management. In contrast, Senator Fatai Buhari of Oyo North supported regionalism, noting that it allowed for better resource management and reduced corruption during the First Republic.
The debate around constitutional reform and regional governance continues, with lawmakers and stakeholders divided on the future direction of Nigeria’s governance structure.
