In Nigeria’s political landscape, the issue of re-adoption of regionalism has recently resurfaced, sparking debate and passionate reactions. Indeed, a bill proposing a new model of governance titled “Nigeria New Model of Governance Act for the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2024” was drafted by Akin Fapohunda, a former director of the federal civil service.
Although this bill was disavowed by the House of Representatives, it generated strong interest on social media. Indeed, many Nigerians see a return to regionalism as a response to the structural problems plaguing the country.
But what does a regional government system actually consist of? It is essentially a form of governance where each region is allowed to control the resources within its territory and pay royalties to the central government.
This model is in contrast to the current system where economic power is heavily centralized within the federal government, which then redistributes revenue to state and local governments.
The experience of regionalism is not foreign to Nigeria, which operated under this model in the 1950s, with a central government and three autonomous regions in the Western, Eastern and Northern regions. Later, the Mid-West region was created from the Western region in 1963.
However, in 1966, Nigeria’s first military head of state, General Ironsi, issued a unification decree, ending regionalism in response to political unrest. Despite criticism of the tribalism inherent in regionalism, each region has seen significant development in various areas, thanks to healthy competition between regions.
Proponents of a return to regionalism believe that this system allowed regions to develop autonomously, thus contributing to sustained economic growth. Indeed, under this system, each region exploited its natural resources to finance its own development, which promoted positive competition between regions.
However, it is important to point out that Nigeria also experimented with a hybrid system of regional and parliamentary government between 1960 and 1963. This period saw President Nnamdi Azikiwe play a ceremonial role, while Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa assumed the role. function of head of government.
In this parliamentary system, real power was in the hands of the prime minister and the government, who came from the majority political party in parliament.
If Nigeria were to return to a regional system of government, the previously prevailing parliamentary model could be reestablished, with a Prime Minister and Regional Premiers acting as heads of government at a regional level..
In conclusion, the issue of regionalism in Nigeria raises complex and passionate debates, illustrating the diverse perspectives on the governance and development of the country. While some see a return to regionalism as a solution to current challenges, others warn of the risks of divisions and tribalism. One thing is certain: the discussion on the ideal model of government for Nigeria is far from over.