A new draft bill seeking to return Nigeria to a regional system of government and grant unconditional self-determination rights to all ethnic nationalities has been proposed by Dr. Akin Fapohunda.
The bill, titled “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,” aims to make significant changes to the country’s governance structure.
The proposal, obtained by SaharaReporters, suggests the abolition of the presidential system of government, the reintroduction of the parliamentary system, and a return to a unicameral legislature. Additionally, it provides for self-determination by any section of the country that desires it.
The bill states: “Every Ethnic Nationality and People in Nigeria has an unconditional right to self-determination within their delineated territories.”
Fapohunda emphasizes that sovereignty, powers, and authority to reform the Central Federal Government of Nigeria should lie with all ethnic nationalities within their respective territories.
The bill also ensures that every ethnic group has the right to self-government, including the establishment of government institutions in their territories and equitable representation in both Federal and Regional Governments.
The bill defines an “Ethnic Nationality or People” as a group sharing a common culture, customs, language, beliefs, identity, and residing in an identifiable contiguous territory.
Further, the proposal advocates for scrapping the current 36-state structure in favor of a regional system. It criticizes the 1999 Constitution, describing it as a military decree imposed without the consent of the Nigerian people.
The draft bill outlines: “WHEREAS Nigeria, its Peoples and Government have been governed under Decree 24 of 1999 that was handed down by the then Military Government without the express consent of the people despite the preamble of ‘We the people.'”
It asserts that Nigerians now demand a Constitution based on a Federal/Regional System of Government, allowing ethnic blocs within states to manage their own affairs at various governance levels.
The bill calls on the National Assembly to invoke its powers to amend or replace the 1999 Constitution, setting a deadline for the new governance model to be effective by October 1, 2024. The amendment would be subject to a referendum for approval by the Nigerian people.
The draft bill represents a significant push for constitutional reform and greater autonomy for Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups, reflecting widespread desires for a more representative and self-determined governance structure.