Agbakoba
Agbakoba (SAN) prescribes “massive devolution of powers” as panacea for Nigeria’s ills
Olisa Agbakoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has declared that a “massive devolution of powers” is the essential solution to Nigeria’s deep-rooted problems.
He argued that the nation requires a brand-new constitution, stating that 25 years of amendments have failed because “you cannot repair a cracked foundation with patches.”
Speaking to editors in Lagos, the former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President presented a policy framework titled, ‘Devolution Is the Solution,’ which calls for a constitutional overhaul to establish genuine federalism.
He attributed Nigeria’s economic stagnation to its flawed political structure, arguing that “extreme centralisation” has trapped millions in an unproductive informal economy, limiting GDP growth to a meager 3-4% instead of the required 10-12% needed to combat poverty.
Agbakoba highlighted the nation’s fiscal imbalance, describing a “fatal illusion” of federalism where the Federal Government controls 97% of revenues. He noted that 35 of the 36 states are unable to pay salaries without federal assistance, reducing the 774 local governments and states to mere “distribution centres for federal handouts” rather than engines of development.
While acknowledging the economic soundness of the Tinubu administration’s recent reforms—such as fuel subsidy removal and forex liberalisation—he insisted they cannot succeed within a “fundamentally broken governance structure.”
His proposed model includes:
· States owning their resources, controlling their police, managing electricity and solid minerals, and retaining 60% of internally generated revenue.
· Local Governments having constitutional authority over primary education, healthcare, water supply, and sanitation.
· The Federal Government retreating to core national functions like defense, currency, immigration, and foreign affairs.
This restructuring, he said, would transform Nigeria into a “dynamic multi-centered economy.”
Looking ahead, Agbakoba described the 2027 presidential election (potentially moved to November 2026) as Nigeria’s “final opportunity for peaceful transformation.”
He tasked every candidate to commit to delivering a new constitution, implementing state police and resource control, and drastically reducing the size of the Federal Government.
He concluded that Nigerians must choose their next leader based on a proven commitment to this fundamental restructuring, rather than on party affiliation or ethnic considerations.
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