Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has called for comprehensive reforms to Nigeria's federal structure, arguing that the ongoing national conversation on the creation of state police should extend beyond security operations to address deeper constitutional, fiscal and judicial issues affecting the country.
DIP CONNECT ONLINE NEWS reports that Soludo made the remarks during a town hall programme on Arise TV, where he described the growing support for state police as a necessary and progressive step towards establishing a more effective and functional federal system.
The governor said the current reforms being pursued under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not come as a surprise, recalling that Tinubu had consistently advocated greater devolution of powers to sub-national governments during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State.
According to Soludo, he often refers to President Tinubu as the "Professor of Federalism" because of his longstanding commitment to strengthening Nigeria's federal system.
Drawing from his experience as governor of Anambra State, Soludo stressed the importance of effective collaboration among federal security agencies, state authorities and private security organisations to improve national security.
However, he cautioned that discussions on state police should not be treated in isolation, describing the issue as part of the broader reforms required to build a sustainable federal security and justice system.
"The Federal Government currently retains approximately 53 per cent of national revenue, while states receive a combined 26 per cent, averaging only about 0.7 per cent for each state.
"To achieve genuine federalism, Nigeria must restructure its fiscal framework by reducing the Federal Government's share to no more than 40 per cent while allowing a greater proportion of resources to flow to states, where the primary responsibilities of governance are carried out," he said.
Soludo also identified the country's judicial system as one of the major obstacles to achieving true federalism.
He argued that although discussions on decentralising security had gained momentum, Nigeria's judiciary still operates largely as a unitary system, limiting the effectiveness of federal reforms.
The governor observed that many legal disputes, particularly land-related cases, spend decades moving through the federal appellate system before reaching final resolution.
Using Anambra State as an example, he said nearly 70 per cent of court cases—including those involving violent disputes—are land-related matters that eventually end at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, with some cases remaining unresolved for between 30 and 40 years.
To address the challenge, Soludo advocated far-reaching judicial reforms, including the establishment of State Courts of Appeal and State Supreme Courts to align the country's judicial system with the principles of federalism already being considered in areas such as policing and correctional services.
The governor further criticised what he described as the persistent imbalance in revenue allocation between the Federal Government and the states.
According to him, responsibilities are increasingly being transferred from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, yet there has been no corresponding review of the revenue-sharing formula to enable states effectively discharge their expanding responsibilities.
Concluding his remarks, Soludo commended President Tinubu for sustaining discussions on constitutional and governance reforms and expressed optimism that the current momentum would lead to broader multi-sectoral changes across the country.
He also stressed the need to sustain reforms as states continue assuming greater responsibilities, including the establishment and management of their own correctional facilities.
The governor reaffirmed his commitment to promoting a system of governance founded on constitutional principles, stronger federalism and improved economic viability for Nigeria's federating states.
ADEOLA KUNLE
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