President Bola Tinubu is set to receive a bill advocating for a return to a regional system of government in Nigeria next week.
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’, aims to establish a new federal/regional governance structure under “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria New Governance Model for Nigeria Act 2024.”
The proposal stated the non-autochthonous nature of the 1999 Constitution, which was implemented by a military decree without the explicit consent of the Nigerian populace.
The bill argues that the current constitution does not reflect the deliberations and consensus of the Nigerian people and calls for a change to a governance model that empowers both federal and regional governments. Stating that ethnic blocs within states should have the discretion to organize into provinces, divisions, and districts, managing their own affairs independently.
Despite the House of Representatives disowning the draft bill and clarifying that it was not under committee deliberation, Dr. Akin Fapohunda, the bill’s drafter, confirmed plans to send it directly to President Tinubu. Fapohunda hopes the President will then present it to the parliament as an executive bill.
