The Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barrister Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal, has called for a fundamental interrogation of Nigeria’s federal structure, arguing that the country’s path to growth and development depends on a genuine devolution of power.
Barrister Lawal made this assertion on Monday as a lead panelist during the 2026 National Economic Council (NEC) Conference, held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.
Contributing to the sub-theme, “Strengthening Inter-State Collaboration and Strategies in a Federal System,” Lawal argued that while Nigeria claims to be a federation, its operational reality tells a different story. He pointed out a “great imbalance” in the current distribution of power, noting that the federal government remains over-concentrated with authorities that should belong to the states.
“The assertion that Nigeria operates a federal system cannot be substantiated by our current operations,” Lawal stated. “We must address the systemic encumbrances that prevent us from running a true federal system if we are serious about national progress.”
Highlighting the importance of regional cooperation, the Deputy Governor cited the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun, as a prime example of essential inter-state collaboration. He noted that the joint initiative between Southwest governors has significantly improved the security landscape of the region, proving that states can achieve more when they work together despite structural limitations.
Echoing Lawal’s sentiments, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, who also served on the panel, criticized the existing legal framework governing natural resources.
“It remains unexplainable how states own the land, yet the resources beneath that same land belong to the Federal Government,” Governor Diri remarked, describing Nigeria’s current governance model as a “Unitary Federal System.”
The panel, which also included the Minister of Regional Development and the Deputy Governor of Delta State, concluded that a more balanced federalism is necessary to unlock the economic potential of Nigeria’s sub-national entities.
