Abuja: The National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Godknows Igali, has called for the restoration of true fiscal federalism, stating that Nigeria’s over-centralised system has weakened productivity. Igali made this statement during the Concerned Citizens Assembly organized by Citizens Rebirth and Awareness Initiative (C-RAIN) in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event, themed ‘A Nation Built on Consent, Strengthened by Strong Regions and United for Peace, Prosperity and Progress’, gathered participants to examine governance, federalism, development, and national unity. Igali expressed concerns that the over-centralised structure has weakened security and accountability. He criticized state governors for not translating regional cooperation into concrete economic development.
Igali emphasized that restructuring is not about breaking up Nigeria, but strengthening it. He clarified that PANDEF’s objective is to save Nigeria, not to divide it, and to enhance the federation for development rather than weaken the central government. He highlighted that Nigeria’s founding fathers designed a federal system allowing regions to develop based on their resources and priorities without over-reliance on the center.
Igali noted historical regional achievements such as the Western Region’s free primary education and Cocoa House, the Eastern Region’s industrial development, and the Northern Region’s agricultural and educational institutions. He called for constitutional amendments to devolve powers, enhance fiscal federalism, restore greater resource control, guarantee local government autonomy, and encourage regional cooperation for sustainable development.
He stressed that restructuring should not be equated with disintegration, urging Nigerians to maintain national unity while discussing reforms to improve the federation’s effectiveness and accountability. The convener of the Concerned Citizens Assembly, Deacon Owolabi Oladejo, stated that restructuring is now a national survival strategy for Nigeria’s future prosperity. He argued that Nigeria’s highly centralised political structure is incapable of effectively addressing the complexities of the federation and national challenges.
Oladejo emphasized that Nigeria’s crisis cannot be resolved merely by changing political leaders; the fundamental governance architecture must be re-examined to achieve stability and progress. He called for a new federal compact founded on consent, stronger regions, fiscal responsibility, and constitutional reform to address national challenges and strengthen democratic governance.
Similarly, Ali Ocheni, General Secretary of the Rebirth Group (TRG) and Citizens for Restructured Nigeria (CRN), reported widespread concern over power centralization following consultations across the six geopolitical zones. Ocheni revealed that the consultations between May 2024 and March 2026 identified over-centralisation and excessive federal executive authority as major factors behind Nigeria’s fractured unity and poor economic performance.
Ocheni advocated for devolving power to sub-regional federating units with separate, mutually administered federal and regional constitutions. He suggested returning to a regional federal structure similar to the 1963 Constitution, promoting productivity through healthy competition and cooperation, enabling federating units to address their developmental priorities and local needs effectively.