Key points
- NIIA DG calls for a better balance of powers between the Federal Government and states.
- He says Nigeria’s highly centralised structure has made federalism increasingly contested.
- UNIBEN launches annual federalism lecture to deepen research and policy dialogue on governance.
Main story
The Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, has called for a rebalance of powers between the Federal Government and the federating units to strengthen Nigeria’s federal system.
Osaghae made the call on Wednesday while delivering the maiden Annual Federalism Lecture of the Centre for Federalism and Democratic Studies at the University of Benin (UNIBEN).
The lecture, titled Federalism: The Paradigm of a Turning Centre, examined the evolution of Nigeria’s federal structure and the need for continuous adjustments in the distribution of powers.
Osaghae said federal systems are dynamic and must respond to changing political realities by maintaining an appropriate balance between the central government and sub-national governments.
According to him, Nigeria has evolved from a region-centred federation to a highly centralised system, making the practice of federalism increasingly contested.
He explained that the powers of the central government in any federation depend on the prevailing balance of political forces, warning that failure to adjust those powers could threaten the stability of the federation.
Osaghae said federal systems generally emerge either through the voluntary union of independent states or through the devolution of powers from a centralised state, noting that Nigeria belongs to the latter category.
He argued that this explains why negotiations over the sharing of powers have remained a recurring feature of Nigeria’s federal arrangement.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s constitutional history, Osaghae said the country operated a region-centred federal system before the 1966 military intervention, with the regions exercising considerable autonomy.
He noted that the military administration subsequently concentrated greater powers at the centre, fundamentally altering the country’s federal structure.
The NIIA director-general also urged advocates of true federalism to focus on strengthening the productive capacity and fiscal independence of states rather than seeking larger allocations from the Federal Government.
He maintained that a sustainable federation requires a balanced distribution of powers and responsibilities across all levels of government.
Vice-Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie (SAN), said the establishment of the Centre for Federalism and Democratic Studies reflected the university’s commitment to advancing research and policy solutions on governance.
He said the centre would promote research, policy dialogue and public engagement on federalism, constitutionalism, democracy, good governance and peacebuilding.
Omoregie added that the annual lecture series would encourage informed discussions on governance issues and position the centre as a leading African think tank on federalism and democratic studies.
The issues
Debates over Nigeria’s federal structure have intensified in recent years, with many stakeholders advocating constitutional reforms to devolve more powers to states, strengthen fiscal federalism and improve governance at the sub-national level.
What’s being said
Osaghae said Nigeria’s federal system requires a better balance of powers between the centre and the states, arguing that sustainable federalism depends on stronger sub-national autonomy and productive capacity.
Omoregie said the new Centre for Federalism and Democratic Studies would provide a platform for research and policy dialogue aimed at addressing governance challenges in Nigeria.
What’s next
The Centre for Federalism and Democratic Studies is expected to continue its annual lecture series and other research initiatives to stimulate policy discussions on constitutional reform, federalism and democratic governance.
Bottom line
Osaghae argues that strengthening Nigeria’s federation requires more than constitutional debate; it demands a better balance of powers and greater economic self-reliance for states to build a more sustainable federal system.
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