Tinubu Set to Receive Draft Bill Advocating Return to Regional Government

President Bola Tinubu will receive a draft bill on Friday proposing a return to Nigeria’s regional system of government. The bill, 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,” was authored by Akin Fapohunda, a prominent member of the Yoruba socio-cultural association, Afenifere.

This proposed legislation aims to replace the current governance framework with a new model cited as “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria New Governance Model for Nigeria Act 2024.” Despite recent disavowal by the House of Representatives, Fapohunda plans to transmit the bill to the President and release it to the public after a seven-day waiting period.

Fapohunda, who also represents the Coalition of Indigenous Ethnic Nationalities, detailed that the proposal includes dividing Nigeria into eight geopolitical regions with interim boundaries. These regions would be given autonomy to manage their affairs, including the creation of sub-entities based on their respective constitutions.

The proposed regions are:

1. Southern Region: Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, and optionally, other contiguous areas.
2. South Eastern Region: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.
3. Western Region: Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, and Ekiti, including Yoruba-speaking areas in Kogi and Kwara.
4. Mid-Western Region: Edo and Delta.
5. Eastern Middle Belt Region: Northern Cross River, Southern Kaduna, Southern Borno, Adamawa, Benue, Kogi, Plateau, Nasarawa, and Taraba.
6. Western Middle Belt Region: Southern Kebbi, parts of Kwara and Niger.
7. North Eastern Region: Parts of Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Jigawa, and Yobe.
8. North Western Region: Kaduna, parts of Kebbi, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara.

The coalition envisions a two-tier government structure comprising federal and regional levels, with regions having the liberty to manage their own affairs. This includes creating sub-entities based on viability and sustainability. The proposed governance framework introduces a new regional government system with executive and legislative functions led by a Premier. Existing states would be converted into provinces with provincial councils integrating executive and legislative functions.

Additionally, the present Local Government Areas would be transformed into divisions with socio-economic development responsibilities. The new constitution proposed by CIEN emphasizes regional freedom to create, merge, or reconfigure sub-political units, aiming to reduce administrative costs to less than 20-30% of generated revenue.

The coalition also advocates for a unicameral federal legislature with representatives elected at the discretion of the regions, and the decentralization of federal power in favor of fewer regions to ensure a more viable federal system.

As Nigeria continues to explore governance reforms, the reception of this bill by President Tinubu marks a significant step towards potential structural changes aimed at enhancing regional autonomy and governance efficiency.