The 36 States of the federation should be scrapped and Nigeria be returned to regional system, an activist, Dr Akin Fapohunda, has proposed.
In a private framework he developed for speedy restructuring of Nigeria’s governance structure, Dr. Fapohunda also suggested the scrapping of the presidential system of government, re-introduction of the parliamentary system, return to uni-cameral Legislature, as well as provision for self-determination by any section of the country which desires so.
Dr. Fapohunda was shedding light on the content of a trending document he authored, in which he proposed the new governance structure.
Speaking to newsmen yesterday, the promoter said Nigeria needs a new governance framework, insisting that the current structure is not working, and that if sustained for a much longer period could even lead to the complete failure of the country.
He said it is a memoranda to all Nigerians, which could eventually transmute into a parliamentary bill or even trigger a sort of national discourse in the form of a confab of leaders of thought from across all sections of Nigeria.
Dr. Fapohunda said, as a patriotic Nigerian, he wanted to elicit serious conversation and positive discussions on how to resolve Nigeria’s existential challenges, insisting that the 1999 Constitution has failed in addressing multiple problems bedevilling Nigeria.
Tagged: ‘A Bill for an Act to Substitute the Annexure to Decree 24 of 1999 with a New Governance Model for the Federal Republic of Nigeria’, he proposes that Nigeria should return to regional government structure which would be led by a Prime Minister and his/her cabinet, while allowing individual ethnic groups to aggregate or disaggregate as provinces, divisions and districts, while being in control of their affairs.
“This Act may be cited as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria New Governance Model for Nigeria Act 2024”, he suggested.
According to him, “All Nigerians must look into this proposal this year. It should be ahead of the 2027 election frenzy. I am not saying that all the things I proposed must be implemented immediately. What I am saying is that we should start from somewhere, by examining and adopting those elements that could work”.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has disowned the Bill.
