By Prof. G. G. Darah
It is probably too early to rejoice over the unfolding political drama. The structural outlines of the regional framework have to be disclosed first. Recently, the president announced the establishment of regional commissions; their mandates and spheres of authority are not known yet. Will the regional commissions be like NDDC without political authority? What will be the status of State Governments in the regional commissions?
The 1999 Constitution recognises the Federal Government, States and LGAs as tiers of government, not regional commissions. It is not politically correct to abolish the states without changing Section 8 of the Constitution that deals with the creation of states. It is the elected State Governors, LGAs and Legislators that are recognised in the Constitution. Will the powers of the regional commissions override those of the states; if not, why create them?
When we proclaim “autonomy” it is autonomy for which tier of government? Who will fund the regional commissions? Will they be like NDDC to which the South-South states subscribe contributions? If the regional commissions do not have required funding, how will they coordinate the development programmes of the States under them? And if states do not cooperate with the commissions, how will the conflict be resolved? Many questions deserving answers.
As for me, former Delegate of 2014 Confab, President Tinubu’s rigmarole confuses me. The Confab examined the option of regional governments, rejected it, and recommended equitable distribution of 9 states in each of the six geopolitical zones. Now Tinubu is fortifying the zones with regional commissions while ignoring the fundamental element of equality of states for a more balanced federation through restructuring. President Tinubu’s regional “panel-beating” approach to Nigeria’s political gridlock is not the genuine restructuring that the country yearns for.