Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has called for comprehensive restructuring of Nigeria’s federal system, saying the debate on creating State Police should go beyond its implementation to address broader constitutional, fiscal and judicial reforms.
Speaking during a town hall programme on Arise Television, Soludo described the establishment of State Police as an inevitable step towards strengthening Nigeria’s federal structure. He said the national conversation should now focus on how the system would be implemented rather than whether it should exist.
According to the governor, effective security requires close collaboration among federal, state and private security agencies. However, he argued that security reforms alone would not achieve the desired results without addressing structural imbalances in the country’s governance system.
Soludo also expressed concern over what he described as the imbalance in revenue allocation between the Federal Government and the States. He noted that while more responsibilities have gradually shifted from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, the sharing formula has not been adjusted to reflect the increasing obligations of State governments.
He said the Federal Government currently receives about 53 per cent of national revenue, while the 36 states share approximately 26 per cent, leaving each state with a relatively small allocation.
He advocated a restructuring of the revenue-sharing formula, proposing that the Federal Government retain no more than 40 per cent of national revenue, with greater resources devolved to the States where most governance responsibilities are carried out.
The Governor also called for reforms in Nigeria’s judicial system, describing it as one of the major obstacles to true federalism. He argued that despite ongoing discussions on decentralising security through State Police, the judiciary remains largely centralised.
Using Anambra as an example, Soludo said many land-related disputes and other cases often end up at the Supreme Court, with some taking several decades before final judgment is delivered. He proposed the establishment of State Courts of Appeal and State Supreme Courts to ensure quicker dispensation of justice and align the judiciary with a more federal system of governance.
Soludo further commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting discussions on federal reforms, describing him as a strong advocate of federalism. He expressed optimism that ongoing conversations on state policing, judicial restructuring and the decentralisation of correctional services would result in meaningful constitutional reforms.
He urged stakeholders to sustain the dialogue, stressing that a stronger federation would promote constitutional balance, improve governance and enhance the economic viability of Nigeria’s
