A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, has reiterated his call for a decentralised system of governance, insisting that Nigeria’s democracy will remain fragile unless power is devolved from the centre to the states and local governments.
Agbakoba made this assertion in a paper titled “Devolution is the Solution – Foundational Reform Agenda for Nigeria’s Transformation,” where he argued that the 1999 Constitution has failed to allow local governments function effectively due to poor funding and over-dependence on the federal and state governments.
According to him, “The structure of our Constitution does not empower local governments to perform. They are financially handicapped and politically subjugated. Without fiscal autonomy, no meaningful development can happen at the grassroots.”
The former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) stated that Nigeria’s current system of governance concentrates excessive power at the federal level, leaving states and local councils as mere appendages with little control over their affairs.
He added that this centralisation has stifled innovation, hindered regional competitiveness, and created a governance gap that fuels insecurity and economic hardship.
“To make democracy work for Nigerians, we must devolve power closer to the people,” Agbakoba said.
“Each level of government should have clear constitutional roles and financial independence to deliver on their mandates. Devolution will not only deepen democracy but also strengthen accountability and national integration.”
Agbakoba urged the National Assembly to embark on comprehensive constitutional reform to address the imbalance in power distribution, noting that decentralisation remains a necessary step toward rebuilding public trust in governance and accelerating development.
He concluded that Nigeria’s transformation depends on adopting a truly federal system that promotes inclusivity, efficiency, and equitable resource control.
