Bad Governance: Time to reconsider Nigeria’s structure – Agbakoba

Former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, says it’s time to reconsider Nigeria’s governance structure.

Agbakoba posited that the country has been operating within a system that has been ineffective for far too long.

He suggested that Nigeria should aim for a governance structure where governors have the authority to lead their states, local communities have a say in their affairs, and decision-making is closer to the people.

In a post on his X handle on Thursday, the legal expert stated that too much power has been centralised in Abuja, limiting the authority of states and regions and stifling their power.

He therefore urged the country to go back to basics with a constitutional reform that truly redistributes power, empowering states to drive their own development.

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Agbakoba’s words: ‘It’s time to reconsider Nigeria’s governance structure. We’ve been operating within a system that has been ineffective for far too long. Too much power has been centralised in Abuja, limiting the authority of states and regions and stifling their power. We need to go back to basics with a constitutional reform that truly redistributes power, empowering states to drive their own development.

“History has taught us a valuable lesson. In 340 AD, Roman Emperor Diocletian believed that his empire was too vast for one person to effectively govern. What did he do? He appointed four co-emperors, decentralising power and allowing the Roman Empire to thrive for another 1,500 years! This is the bold action required in Nigeria.

“We should aim for a governance structure where governors have the authority to lead their states, local communities have a say in their affairs, and decision-making is closer to the people it affects.

“The National Assembly holds the key to making this change. We need a constitutional reform that recalibrates the balance of power and allows real strong political and economic development to take hold in Nigeria.”