Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has called for a major change in Nigeria’s federal system. He believes that the discussion on state police should go beyond just security. It should also include changes to how money is shared and reforms in the courts.
Mr Soludo made these comments at a Town Hall Meeting in Awka on Thursday. He said the rising support for state police is a necessary step towards a better federal system.
He added that the conversation has shifted from whether Nigeria should have state police to how it can be put in place. The governor said his experience in Anambra shows that federal, state, and private security agencies need to work together effectively.
He also mentioned that bigger changes to the constitution should go hand in hand with security reforms. The governor expressed concern about the financial imbalance between the federal government and the states.
"More responsibilities have been transferred to states without a corresponding review of the revenue allocation formula."
He pointed out that the federal government keeps about 53 percent of the national revenue. The 36 states, on the other hand, share only about 26 percent, which averages to less than one percent per state.
"I’m advocating a leaner federal government with a maximum of 40 percent share of national revenue, while more resources should be devolved to states to enable them to discharge their constitutional responsibilities effectively," he said.
The governor also called for changes in Nigeria’s judicial system. He believes it is a major barrier to true federalism. He noted that, even with efforts to decentralize security, the judiciary still operates mainly as a unitary system. This leads to court cases that can take decades to resolve.
Mr Soludo stated that in Anambra, around 70 percent of court cases, including those related to violence, are about land. These cases often end up at the Supreme Court after 30 to 40 years.
He suggested creating State Courts of Appeal and State Supreme Courts to better match the judiciary with the country’s federal structure. The governor praised President Bola Tinubu for pushing discussions on federalism forward. He is hopeful that the current reforms will strengthen Nigeria’s federal system.
He noted that efforts, like states wanting to set up their own correctional facilities, show a growing push for deeper changes to the constitution and institutions.
Mr Soludo urged everyone involved to keep talking about restructuring. He said thorough reforms are needed to ensure a balance in the constitution, good governance, and economic strength for the states.
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