By Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Abuja
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and a coalition of concerned citizens have proposed a far-reaching restructuring of Nigeria, advocating a 15-region federal arrangement that would devolve substantial powers over security, natural resources, taxation and development from Abuja to the federating units.
The proposal was unveiled at a conference on restructuring Nigeria in Abuja, where the groups argued that the excessive concentration of political and economic power at the centre had weakened the country’s federal system, fuelled insecurity, and hindered sustainable development.
Under the proposed “Federated Regions of Nigeria,” the country would comprise Akwa Ibom, Igbo, Anioma, Bendel, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ijaw, Kanem, Niger, Plateau-Gurara, Rima, Rivers, Savannah and Yoruba regions.
*State police, resource control, fiscal federalism top restructuring demands
The proponents called for the establishment of state police, greater control of natural resources by the federating units, fiscal federalism, local government autonomy and restoration of the derivation principle to 50 per cent.
National Chairman of PANDEF, Ambassador Godknows Igali, said the excessive powers concentrated at the federal level had undermined Nigeria’s ability to tackle insecurity and achieve broad-based economic development effectively.
Speaking at the conference, titled “Thoughts on Moving Nigeria’s Democracy Forward,” Igali blamed many of the country’s political and economic difficulties on military interventions that, according to him, dismantled the federal structure negotiated by Nigeria’s founding fathers.
He specifically cited Decree No. 34 of 1966, promulgated under the then Head of State, Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, which abolished the regional system, as well as Decree No. 43 of 1968 under General Yakubu Gowon, which vested control of petroleum resources in the Federal Government.
Igali said subsequent military interventions further weakened the derivation principle, reducing the share accruing to producing areas from 50 per cent to as low as 1.5 per cent.
“That is how we moved from a federation of producers to a federation of beggars,” he said.
The PANDEF chairman argued that Nigeria’s current structure represented a departure from the federal arrangement developed by nationalist leaders, including Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and Sir Ahmadu Bello, before independence.
He urged Nigerians to examine federal systems in countries such as the United States, Canada, Germany and India, where constituent units exercise substantial authority over policing, taxation and economic resources.
Igali proposed that policing, electricity, railways, ports, mines and land administration be removed from the Exclusive Legislative List and devolved to the federating units.
He further advocated the restoration of 50 per cent derivation and the transfer of ownership of natural resources to states or regions, with royalties paid to the Federal Government.
He also proposed that states should be empowered to collect VAT and other taxes, arguing that greater fiscal autonomy would enable the constituent units to develop their economies according to their resources and peculiar circumstances.
Other recommendations included full local government autonomy and the creation of regional economic blocs to coordinate major infrastructure, economic and security initiatives.
According to Igali, decentralising political and economic powers would not weaken Nigeria but could strengthen the federation by allowing its constituent units to develop according to their individual capacities and needs.
Also speaking, the Convener of the Concerned Citizens Assembly, Deacon Owolabi Oladejo, described restructuring as “a national survival strategy.”
Oladejo said colonial arrangements and decisions of political elites, with limited participation by ordinary citizens, had largely shaped Nigeria’s political architecture.
He traced the evolution of the current structure to historical developments including the 1884 Berlin Conference and the 1914 amalgamation, arguing that Nigerians should now have the opportunity to determine the political arrangement they genuinely desire.
He stressed that the Citizens Assembly was neither a government initiative nor a political party platform, but an effort to exercise what he described as the sovereign authority of Nigerian citizens.
According to Oladejo, the assembly would deliberate on proposed Articles of Federation, fiscal federalism, resource management, regional constitutions and a new security architecture as part of negotiations towards a voluntary “Federated Regions of Nigeria.”
He said participants had been barred from introducing unrelated political or ethnic grievances into the proceedings, stressing that the objective was to provide a platform for Nigerians to negotiate how they wished to be governed.
Both PANDEF and the citizens’ group called for the restructuring process to be pursued through constitutional dialogue, consensus-building and peaceful negotiation.
They warned that the continued concentration of political and economic powers in Abuja was contributing to insecurity, economic hardship and growing demands for greater autonomy across the country.
The proponents said their ultimate objective was to build a Nigeria “built on consent, led by strong regions, united for peace, security and progress,” insisting that stronger federating units could produce a more stable, secure and prosperous federation.
