President Bola Tinubu is set to receive a draft bill on Friday that proposes a return to a regional system of government for Nigeria.
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,” was authored by Akin Fapohunda, a prominent member of the Yoruba socio-cultural association, Afenifere.
This proposed legislation seeks to introduce new laws that will be collectively cited as “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria New Governance Model for Nigeria Act 2024.” According to The PUNCH, the bill has not been recognized by the House of Representatives, with Akin Rotimi, the House spokesman, and the Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business stating that it has not been listed for discussion in the ongoing constitutional review process.
Despite this, Fapohunda confirmed on Thursday that the bill would be transmitted to President Tinubu on Friday. He mentioned that he would submit his letter (draft bill) on the same day and wait for seven days before making it public.
Fapohunda, who also represents the Coalition of Indigenous Ethnic Nationalities (CIEN), outlined a proposal to divide Nigeria into eight geo-political regions with provisional boundaries. The proposed regions include:
1. **Southern Region**: Comprising Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Cross Rivers States, with optional inclusions of the Annang, Effik, Ekoi, Ibibio, Oro Ohaji/Egbema in Southern Imo, Adonia, Efemia, Ijaw, Ogoni, Bini, Ishan, Isoko, Urhobo, and Ijaw-speaking people in Northern Ondo State.
2. **South Eastern Region**: Consisting of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States.
3. **Western Region**: Including Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, and Ekiti States, with optional inclusion of Yoruba-speaking people in Kogi and the Igbomina people in Kwara State, as well as the Itsekiri people of Delta State and Akoko-Edo people of Edo State.
4. **Mid-Western Region**: Made up of Edo and Delta States, potentially incorporating the Anioma people.
5. **Eastern Middle Belt Region**: Comprising Northern Cross River, Southern Kaduna, Southern Borno, Adamawa, Benue, Kogi, Plateau, Nasarawa, and Taraba States.
6. **Western Middle Belt Region**: Including Southern Kebbi, parts of Kwara and Niger States.
7. **North Eastern Region**: Made up of parts of Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Jigawa, and Yobe States.
8. **North Western Region**: Comprising Kaduna, parts of Kebbi, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara States.
Fapohunda noted that the coalition envisages a two-tier government structure with federal and regional levels. The regions would have the autonomy to manage their own affairs, including the creation of sub-entities based on their respective constitutions.
CIEN’s proposed governance model suggests retaining the current boundaries of the 36 states but restructuring the political administration to introduce a new regional government framework with executive and legislative functions led by a Premier. This model aims to streamline and reconfigure the administrative apparatus of the country.
