Professor Ighodalo Clement Eromosele, a former Deputy Vice Chancellor at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, has ignited a crucial debate on Nigeria's governance structure. In a compelling discourse dated December 22, 2025, he argues that the nation's persistent crises stem from a constitutional framework that strangles true federalism. Central to his argument is the contentious issue of state police and the distribution of power between the central government and the states.
The Constitutional Crisis and the Illusion of Federalism
Eromosele grounds his analysis in the definitions provided by the late constitutional law expert, Professor Ben Nwabueze. Nwabueze described federalism as a system where power is shared between a national government and regional governments, each operating independently with its own authority and apparatus. Applying this definition, Eromosele delivers a stark verdict: Nigeria's state governments do not qualify as true governments.
He points to Section 214(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which establishes a single Nigeria Police Force and prohibits any other. This, he asserts, strips state governors of the coercive force necessary to enforce laws and maintain security, rendering them "lame-ducks" in matters of internal safety. Despite Section 2(2) declaring Nigeria a federation, the centralised police force contradicts this very principle.
Resource Control and Judicial Overreach
The critique extends beyond policing. Eromosele highlights Section 44(3), which vests all control of minerals, oil, and gas in the federal government. He questions how states can thrive or address the environmental devastation in resource-rich areas like Oloibiri in Bayelsa State when they have no substantial control over the resources beneath their land.
Furthermore, he raises a constitutional concern regarding the Supreme Court's July 2024 judgment ordering direct allocation of funds to local governments. While aimed at curbing state government abuses, Eromosele argues this decision undermines Section 162(6) of the Constitution, which designates Local Government Areas as subunits of states. This prompts a fundamental question about the judiciary's power to override constitutional provisions.
The Path Forward: Unpacking the 2014 National Conference
The article presents the 2014 National Conference report as a blueprint for reform. Its recommendations, which were shelved by the Buhari administration and remain unaddressed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are detailed as essential for true federalism. Key proposals include:
- The establishment of state police forces.
- Allowing states to create their own constitutions.
- Decentralisation of the judiciary.
- Automatic forfeiture of seats for any elected official who defects ("carpet-crosses").
- Moving census responsibilities to the Concurrent Legislative List.
- Making Socio-Economic Rights justiciable.
- Allocating 30% of budgets to education and phasing out open grazing for ranching.
Eromosele acknowledges legitimate fears about state police being misused by governors, especially in a political climate marred by godfatherism and ethnic politics. However, he insists that the solution lies not in rejecting decentralisation but in building a truly federalised Nigeria with robust institutions. He warns that without anchoring the nation on immutable federal principles, Nigeria risks perpetual motion without meaningful movement toward stability and justice.
