Tinubu to Receive Regional Government Bill Next Week
A bill proposing a return to a regional government system in Nigeria will be sent to President Bola Tinubu next week, according to exclusive information obtained by Saturday PUNCH.
Last week, the House of Representatives denied any connection to a draft bill that was widely shared online.
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 introduce new laws under “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria New Governance Model for Nigeria Act 2024.”
The bill states that Nigeria has been governed under Decree 24 of 1999, imposed by a military government without the people’s explicit consent, despite the preamble saying, “We, the people.” It points out that the current constitution isn’t homegrown as it wasn’t created through the people’s deliberations and consensus. The bill argues that Nigerians now want a new constitution based on a federal/regional government system.
It suggests that federal and regional governments should operate within this new constitution, allowing ethnic groups within states to organize themselves into provinces, divisions, and districts, managing their affairs independently at various governance levels.
Despite inquiries, the House of Representatives denied involvement with the bill, with House spokesman Akin Rotimi and Chairman of Rules and Business Francis Waive confirming it wasn’t under committee review.
However, the bill’s drafter, Dr. Akin Fapohunda, indicated his plans to discuss it with National Assembly members before sending it to President Tinubu. He hopes the President might present it to the parliament as an executive bill.
