Nigeria Must Return to Fiscal Federalism, Governors Should End Regional 'Jamborees,' Says PANDEF Chair

Ambassador Godknows Igali, National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), is urging Nigeria to reinstate fiscal federalism and devolve more power to its regions. He argues that the current over-concentration of political and economic authority in Abuja is stifling the country's productive capacity and fostering a culture of dependency among states.

“

FAAC has made governors CEOs of ‘allocation sharing’. Decree 43 made us lazy and dependent on oil. Fiscal federalism will make them CEOs of production.

Igali specifically called out state governors, describing their regional cooperation efforts as mere "jamborees." He implored them to move beyond ceremonial meetings and establish concrete economic partnerships that can generate wealth and employment. Speaking at a national dialogue on restructuring Nigeria, Igali asserted that the monthly Federation Account Allocation System (FAAC) has turned governors into "CEOs of 'allocation sharing,'" hindering their role as "CEOs of production."

“

Why can’t they operate as a region to invest in the centre? Not just going off eating, wearing the same clothes and all the other things.

He recalled Nigeria's founding fathers' deliberate adoption of federalism, recognizing that the nation's diversity could flourish with sufficient autonomy for its constituent parts. Igali contends that successive military interventions, particularly since 1966, have systematically weakened this federal structure by centralizing powers and resources, making states increasingly reliant on federal handouts. "We destroyed what was working," he lamented, referencing the era of regional governments.

“

From the outset, let me state clearly, we from PANDEF are gathered here today not to divide Nigeria, but to save her. We are gathered not to weaken the centre, but to strengthen the federation.

PANDEF's stance, Igali clarified, is not to divide Nigeria but to save it by strengthening the federation, not weakening the center. He believes Nigeria does not need to disintegrate but must abandon a system where virtually all decisions and resources flow through Abuja. He invoked the memory of the Western, Northern, and Eastern regions' past competition in agriculture, education, and industrialization, which spurred revenue generation and economic development, asking pointedly, "Where are the pyramids?"

“

We destroyed what was working.