Don Advocates Constitutional Restructuring, Devolution Of Powers To Strengthen Nigeria’s Federalism

A Professor of Comparative Politics and Public Administration at Osun State University, Professor Bolaji Olumuyiwa Omitola, has called for a fundamental review of Nigeria’s governance structure.

Delivering the 29th inaugural lecture of the University themed: “Governance in Nigeria: Between David and Goliath,” where he examined Nigeria’s governance experience, Omitola posited that constitutional restructuring and devolution of powers are essential to building a more effective and responsive federal system.

The don noted that for now the struggle for effective governance in Nigeria is essentially a contest between the forces of centralisation and decentralisation.

The professor argued that Nigeria’s constitutional development had witnessed a steady drift towards centralisation, with the federal government assuming responsibilities that were previously exercised by the regions and which, according to him, could now be more effectively handled by state governments.

Omitola said countries that successfully manage federal systems were those that recognised the social, economic, political and cultural forces within their territories when designing institutions of governance.

According to him, the “Goliath” in the Nigerian governance experience represents the powerful centralising forces, while “David” symbolises the decentralising forces seeking greater autonomy, participation and responsiveness at subnational levels.

He explained that centralisation was not necessarily undesirable because it could promote order, stability, efficiency and accountability, just as decentralisation could promote autonomy, participation, innovation and responsiveness.

Omitola noted that the 1960 Independence Constitution and the 1963 Republican Constitution granted considerably greater autonomy to the regions, while the 1979 and 1999 constitutions progressively expanded the matters placed under the exclusive control of the Federal Government.

According him, the Exclusive Legislative List increased from 45 items under the 1960 Independence Constitution to 68 under the 1999 Constitution, while the matters contained in the Concurrent Legislative List remained comparatively limited.

He said the development had weakened the ability of states and local governments to formulate and implement policies that directly addressed the needs and peculiarities of their people.

He said the Nigerian experience had demonstrated that when component units were denied meaningful autonomy, dissatisfaction and disenchanted groups could increasingly resort to demands for greater self-government and restructuring.