The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has formally called on Nigeria’s leadership across the three arms of government to initiate urgent constitutional reforms aimed at decentralising the country’s governance structure.
In a letter addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, the organisation appealed for the commencement of a political programme that would restructure the Nigerian federation and devolve greater powers to the regions.
The letter, dated March 1, 2026, was signed by Dr. Akin Fapohunda, Director of Research and Strategy of Afenifere, on behalf of a broad coalition of Yoruba leaders drawn from academia, industry, civil society, and the diaspora.
Afenifere argued that Nigeria’s current governance system is overly centralised, with excessive powers concentrated in Abuja. According to the group, the structure has created inefficiencies, bureaucratic bottlenecks, and a widening disconnect between the government and citizens.
The organisation noted that managing the affairs of 36 states and 774 local governments from a single federal centre has placed an unsustainable administrative burden on the federal government. It also pointed to the complexity of overseeing dozens of ministries and nearly a thousand federal agencies as evidence of systemic overload.
“The extreme centralisation of governance has stifled local initiative, delayed development, and alienated grassroots communities from the dividends of democracy,” the letter stated.
The group stressed that Nigeria’s governance challenges cannot be resolved merely by periodic elections or changes in political leadership. Instead, it advocated structural reforms that would distribute power more equitably across the federation.
According to Afenifere, decentralisation would enhance governance efficiency, encourage regional development initiatives, and better reflect Nigeria’s diverse population of more than 300 ethnic nationalities.
Central to the organisation’s appeal is a request for political autonomy for the Yoruba region within the Nigerian federation.
Afenifere proposed a governance framework inspired by the Lyttleton Constitution of 1954, which granted significant autonomy to Nigeria’s regions before independence. The group credited that system with fostering economic growth, educational advancement, and infrastructure development in the former Western Region.
The organisation said restoring a modernised version of regional autonomy would strengthen rather than weaken Nigeria’s unity.
Afenifere urged the leadership of the executive, legislature, and judiciary to initiate three constitutional amendments within 45 days:
- Regional Constitutions
Amend the Constitution to allow regions or ethnic nationalities to adopt subsidiary constitutions tailored to their governance needs.
- Devolution of Powers
Reduce the current 68 items on the Exclusive Legislative List in the 1999 Constitution and transfer many of those powers to regional governments.
- Institutionalisation of Referendums
Introduce plebiscites or referendums to enable citizens vote directly on governance structures and major public policy questions.
The proposed reforms outline a three-tier governance framework:
Federal Exclusive Powers
Limited to key national responsibilities such as defence, foreign affairs, currency management, immigration, and banking regulation.
Concurrent Powers
Shared between the federal government and regional administrations, including policing, energy, transportation, communications, and scientific research.
Residual Powers
All other powers would reside with regional governments, allowing them to manage local development and governance.
Afenifere emphasised that its proposals are intended to strengthen Nigeria’s unity by ensuring fairness, equity, and effective governance.
The organisation expressed confidence that decentralisation would unleash the country’s development potential and empower regions to harness their resources more effectively.
The group concluded by requesting a formal response from the leadership of the three arms of government within 45 days.
“We submit this appeal in good faith, with confidence that Nigeria’s unity will be strengthened, not threatened, by justice, equity and decentralisation,” the letter stated.
