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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The Concerned Citizens Assembly has called for an amendment of the Constitution to enable federating regions retain 80 per cent of revenues generated within their territories, while remitting the remaining 20 per cent to the Federal Government.
This was part of proposals contained in its communiqué adopted on Wednesday after a three-day deliberation on Nigeria’s federal system in Abuja.
Under the proposed fiscal arrangement, the regions would have greater control over their resources and economic affairs, while the Federal Government would be left with limited responsibilities, including foreign affairs, customs, immigration, national defence, currency, the Central Bank and other specifically defined national functions.
Reading the communiqué at the end of the meeting, Convener of the Assembly, Deacon Owolabi Oladejo, said the proposed restructuring was intended to address the excessive concentration of powers at the centre.
The Assembly said Nigeria could achieve greater peace, security, economic prosperity, accountability and national cohesion by replacing centralisation with “a genuine federal system based on consent, autonomy and shared constitutional responsibilities.”
On fiscal federalism, the group said regions should exercise substantial control over economic resources and revenues generated within their territories.
“The fiscal principle shall be 80% (eighty percent) of revenues generated within a region be retained by that region. The regions shall contribute the remaining 20% (twenty percent) of their revenue to the Federal Government,” it said.
According to the Assembly, the arrangement, which it linked to the fiscal principle under the 1963 Republican Constitution, would promote “accountability, productivity, competition, development and responsible management of public resources.”
It, however, cautioned that financial autonomy must be accompanied by fiscal responsibility.
The Assembly also called for the abolition of the concurrent legislative list, arguing that powers not specifically assigned to the Federal Government should reside with the regions.
It said the Federal Government should become “a government of clearly defined federal responsibilities rather than an over-centralised authority exercising residual control over the constituent regions.”
Beyond fiscal matters, the group proposed that the autonomous regions assume full responsibility for regional policing and internal public safety, while national defence, territorial integrity and external security remain Federal responsibilities.
It said regional security institutions must operate within constitutional safeguards, including respect for fundamental human rights and civilian authority.
According to the Assembly, each autonomous region should also have its own Regional Constitution, adopted through a legitimate and participatory process.
The regional constitutions, it said, would establish the institutions, powers, responsibilities and systems of governance of the respective regions, subject to the Federal Constitution.
The Assembly further recommended mechanisms for resolving disputes over territorial boundaries, the inclusion or exclusion of communities and competing regional claims.
It said such issues should not be determined by “emotion, historical grievance, numerical strength or political pressure”, but through an objective, transparent and evidence-based process.
Where negotiations and boundary-delineation mechanisms fail, the Assembly proposed referendums involving affected communities, saying the outcome should constitute “the expression of their democratic consent.”
The group also stressed that the proposed restructuring was not aimed at breaking up Nigeria.
“The Assembly believes that unity is strongest when it is founded on consent, justice, mutual respect and constitutional equality rather than excessive centralisation,” it said.
To drive the transition, the Assembly called on the Federal Government to establish a National Rebirth Commission with a constitutional and transitional mandate.
The proposed commission would coordinate the constitutional restructuring process, facilitate negotiations between the proposed regions and the Federal Government, resolve territorial questions and organise referendums where necessary.
It would also coordinate the preparation of Federal and Regional constitutional instruments and facilitate the transition to fiscal federalism and regional security arrangements.
The Assembly further called for the establishment of a Truth, Reconciliation, Unity and Equity Department within the proposed commission.
On the protection of minorities, women, children and other vulnerable communities, the group insisted that regional autonomy must not become a platform for domination or discrimination.
“No community should be required to surrender its fundamental rights as the price of regional autonomy,” the Assembly declared.
It proposed safeguards including equality before the law, protection of cultural, linguistic and traditional identities, equitable political representation, protection against discrimination and exclusion, access to public services and judicial remedies for rights violations.
The Assembly therefore urged the Federal Government, National Assembly, political institutions, civil society organisations, traditional institutions and citizens to commence a national constitutional dialogue aimed at translating the proposals into a new federal constitutional framework.
It maintained that Nigeria’s present structure requires fundamental reform to achieve sustainable peace, security, development and accountable governance.
The group said the proposed new federal arrangement should be founded on autonomous regions, fiscal federalism, limited Federal powers, regional security, regional constitutions, minority protection, democratic consent, constitutionalism, justice and equity.
“A peaceful and prosperous Federated Regions of Nigeria will emerge from voluntary association of stronger regions when we come together by consent,” the Assembly declared.
It added: “Federated Regions of Nigeria works for us because Nigeria is structured by our consent.”
