In a potentially transformative move for Nigeria’s political landscape, a draft bill advocating for a return to a regional system of government is set to be submitted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday.
The bill, spearheaded by Akin Fapohunda, a leader of the Yoruba socio-cultural group Afenifere and the Coalition of Indigenous Ethnic Nationalities (CIEN), proposes replacing the current federal structure with a two-tier system comprising federal and regional governments.
Fapohunda confirmed to The PUNCH on Thursday that the bill would be delivered to the President on Friday. “I’m submitting my letter (draft bill) today but will wait for seven days before releasing it to the public,” he said.
Titled “A Bill for an Act to substitute the annexure to Decree 24 of 1999 with New Governance Model for the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the legislation aims to address Nigeria’s political and economic challenges by decentralizing power and promoting regional autonomy. According to Fapohunda, the proposed regions would have extensive powers to manage their affairs, create sub-entities, and adopt their own constitutions.
The envisioned regions include the southern region, comprising Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Cross River States, with optional inclusions from various ethnic groups and areas such as Annang, Effik, Ekoi, Ibibio, and others. The South Eastern region would encompass Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States.
The Western region would include Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, and Ekiti States, with potential inclusions of Yoruba-speaking people in Kogi and the Igbomina people in Kwara State. Additionally, the Mid-Western Region would be made up of Edo and Delta States, possibly incorporating the Anioma people.
The bill also outlines the Eastern Middle Belt Region, consisting of Northern Cross River, Southern Kaduna, Southern Borno, Adamawa, Benue, Kogi, Plateau, Nasarawa, and Taraba States. The Western Middle Belt Region would include Southern Kebbi, parts of Kwara, and Niger States, while the North Eastern Region would encompass parts of Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Jigawa, and Yobe States. The North Western Region would consist of Kaduna, parts of Kebbi, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara States.
Fapohunda explained that these regions would be empowered to create provinces, subject to viability and sustainability, and transform local government areas into divisions with specialized administrative officers. The regions would also have the authority to merge or reconfigure their sub-political units without external interference.
The coalition proposes a new constitution that allows regions the freedom to create, merge, or reconfigure their sub-political units, reduce public and civil service administration costs to 20-30% of generated revenue, and adopt a parliamentary system with rotating regional leadership.
According to Fapohunda, this governance model is designed to decentralize power, promote regional autonomy, and reduce governance costs, addressing inefficiencies, corruption, and underdevelopment in the current federal system. He believes that regional competition would spur economic development and lessen the federal government’s burden.
“The present federal system has failed Nigeria, and it’s time to try a new approach,” Fapohunda stated.
“Our proposed regional government system would decentralize power, promote regional autonomy, and reduce the cost of governance. We believe this is the way forward for Nigeria.”
Despite the House of Representatives previously disowning the proposal, Fapohunda remains optimistic about receiving favorable consideration from the President and the National Assembly. “We believe that our proposed governance model is the solution to Nigeria’s political and economic woes, and we’re willing to engage with all stakeholders to make it a reality,” he added.
