The structural design of the Nigerian state has long been criticised for maintaining a heavily centralised governance model that contradicts its pluralistic realities. Although the Constitution of Nigeria establishes a three-tier federation comprising federal, state, and local governments, institutional practices remain largely unitary. This anomaly has stifled grassroots administration since the mid-1960s and limited the tangible benefits of democratic governance since the return to civil rule in 1999.
Addressing these structural imbalances through constitutional restructuring is vital for unburdening development targets and improving public service delivery. For the administration under President Bola Tinubu, this agenda aligns with his longstanding ideological commitment to true federalism and is reinforced by recent policy actions aimed at decentralising governance.
What policy steps signal a shift toward decentralisation?
Several key initiatives introduced by the federal government point toward a recalibration of power. These include the establishment of the Ministry of Regional Development to coordinate socioeconomic progress across the six geopolitical zones, alongside six regional development commissions tasked with driving policy formulation. Furthermore, legislative efforts regarding state police have advanced, the 2023 Electricity Act successfully decentralized power generation and distribution to the concurrent legislative list, and ongoing amendments to the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007 seek to loosen federal control over solid minerals.
These policy shifts, combined with the July 2024 Supreme Court ruling affirming the financial autonomy of local government councils, underscore the necessity of incentivizing subnational entities to invest in their respective regions.
How can competitive federalism be achieved?
Transitioning toward a structurally permanent competitive federalism requires a calculated, piecemeal legislative approach. Experts suggest five primary pathways to institutionalise this decentralisation process:
First, the newly formed regional bodies must be legally integrated into robust economic frameworks rather than operating merely as extensions of the central government. Streamlining regional development plans—such as long-term infrastructural blueprints—allows individual zones to leverage their specific comparative advantages in agriculture, trade, mining, and other sectors.
Second, financial autonomy must accompany these structural responsibilities. Providing dedicated allocations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund and encouraging public-private partnerships or funding via the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund (RHIDF) will secure the financial viability of regional commissions. Devolving resource management will further empower regions to take full ownership of their economic trajectories.
Third, developmental local governance must be vigorously pursued. Leveraging the Supreme Court's financial autonomy verdict requires supplementary legislation to ensure strict accountability, tracking expenditures on critical local infrastructure such as feeder roads, primary healthcare, and basic education.
Fourth, regional commissions must function as interconnected economic growth poles. This involves decentralizing key public assets, expanding massive transit corridors like coastal and superhighways, and decoupling regional power grids from the overburdened national grid system to ensure reliable electricity supplies.
Finally, security architecture must evolve alongside decentralization. Transitioning from conceptual frameworks to the full deployment of state police, supported by regional intelligence sharing and joint operations, remains essential for sustaining economic growth and maintaining public safety.
By steadily advancing these decentralisation initiatives beyond the 2027 political cycle, the administration has an opportunity to dismantle longstanding institutional bottlenecks and align governance structures more closely with the needs of the Nigerian populace.