Agitations for Nigeria’s political restructuring
Political scientists have pointed out time without number that a federal system of government shares power between the central, regional or state governments. Such powers are defined in a written constitution usually adopted following deliberations of a Constituent Assembly. The federal system contrasts with a unitary type under which the central authority is stronger than other components and therefore wields a lot of power.
2. In the case of Nigeria, our political founding fathers favoured the federal system and agreed on four regions based on cultural affinity and common interests which offered them administrative convenience in carrying out their internal administration. Under the 1963 Constitution that brought them into being, each region reflected its autonomy by writing its own constitution which provided bi-cameral legislature, judiciary, offices of the Governor and cabinet ministers led by Premier. The regional constitutions were indeed consistent with the provisions and legal order of the Federal Constitution.
3. The revenue sharing formula allowed the regions to retain 50% of the resources emanating from their territories, contribute 20% to the Federal Government and place the remaining 30% in Distributable Pool Account shared by the regions on the criteria of equality, population and land mass. The Constitution also delineated areas of responsibilities between the Federal and Regional Governments through the exclusive, concurrent and residual lists. The system worked rather satisfactorily but there were hitches and problems here and there which were tolerated until the advent of military rule that considerably changed the political landscape.
4. An attempt to change the federal system to unitary was made under the first military regime. The change was not popular and had to revert to the status quo. The military conducted constitutional reviews and gradually created 36 states in the country including over 700 local governments under the enabling Constitution Suspension and Modification Decree. The parliamentary system was changed to the American presidential type of administration. At the time the Military staged a coup, the people’s acceptance gave them legitimacy and indeed legality to rule the country in the way and manner they deemed it appropriate. The Military must be commended for their one nation, one people strategy in regarding the whole country as their sphere of political and administrative action, sharing resources and executing development programmes. Indeed they proved to be the promoters and protectors of the national interest. The revenue sharing formula which was reviewed from time to time was frowned at by the oil producing states. They were expecting the derivation principle to be accorded priority and substantial funds allocated to enable them to handle environmental degradation and other ecological and pollution problems caused by the oil exploitation. Agitations in that regard were common requests at the various conferences convened to examine Nigeria’s search for a viable polity.
5. It has to be appreciated that the administrative style of the military as a profession is hierarchical and centralized. Involuntarily, that affected the political system. The federal administration has therefore essentially been operated as unitary with the Federal Government dominating the States. Matters on the concurrent list such as education was taken over by the Federal Government at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. States cannot set up universities without federal approval which was not hitherto the case under the 1963 constitutional regional arrangement. University admission is also being centralized under JAMB. Land tenure system was harmonized throughout the country and entrenched into the Constitution which was not the case before.
6. Nigeria is now in its 16th year of post military administration. Civil rule and democracy are being consolidated. It is for this reason in my view that the clamour for restructuring, fiscal federalism and resource control is increasing. I must admit that I see sense in the proposal for restructuring as articulated by the South West delegates to the 2014 National Conference. Essentially, they want a return to Regionalism with adjustments in the actual number of the regions. They want the six geo political zones of NC, NE, NW, SE, SS and SW to be the regions. These zones are very carefully calculated cultural affinity groupings for the purpose of political expediency. They would like also to see 18 more states created to take care of the interests of minorities.
7. The new regional groups under the six geo-political zones should be subjected to plebiscite to ascertain the wish of the people to belong to such grouping. No community should be prevailed upon to accept inclusion in an area they do not wish to belong. Under such circumstances boundary adjustments can be made. The fear of domination in the zones must be eliminated. There will then be a total of 54 states which will replace local authorities as third tier of government.
8. The south west delegates also called for the creation of regional police in order to maintain law and order based on the culture of the people and knowledge of the environment. They proposed collegiate leadership under which the Presidency will be rotating along the zones to give all and sundry a feeling of belonging. The American presidential system will no longer serve useful purpose as it is very expensive to operate. The salary and allowances paid to the legislators rapidly drain government resources. There is a compelling need to revert to parliamentary system with unicameral legislature under which the legislators will operate on part time basis.
9. Economic realities of the present day Nigeria will have to be considered deeply in assessing the move for a return to regionalism. The 50% derivation principle which the Regions retained under the 1963 Constitution cannot be feasible now. The Federal Government has enormous responsibilities to shoulder in the execution of national security, defense, foreign affairs, communications and other pressing responsibilities. There are arguments that under the international law offshore and deep sea oil production belong to the Federal Government. Only on shore oil production will attract derivation to the oil producing States. Land, apart from being a factor of production, is a very important resource which provides lots of opportunities for development. Experts should be commissioned to critically examine all available resources and income of the country and devise an equitable revenue sharing formula between the Federal Government and federating units under any new political dispensation.
10. Finally, the persistent call for restructuring with a view to ensuring the proper operation of the federal system of government, the so called true federalism, is quite in order. As I see it, its intention is indeed to strengthen national unity rather than to allow the operation of the unitary system in the guise of federal structure to frustrate working relations between the federating units and the Federal Government. There should be tenacity of purpose to correct past mistakes at all levels. God bless Nigeria. Amen.