Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has renewed calls for a comprehensive restructuring of Nigeria’s federal system, arguing that the ongoing push for state police will deliver limited results unless accompanied by far-reaching fiscal and judicial reforms.
Speaking during a town hall meeting on Arise Television, Soludo said the growing national consensus on establishing state police reflects an important shift towards a more functional federation but insisted that security reforms alone would not resolve the structural challenges confronting the country.
The governor said discussions on state policing should be viewed as part of a broader constitutional reform agenda aimed at devolving more powers and resources to sub-national governments while strengthening institutions responsible for justice and governance.
Reflecting on reforms under President Bola Tinubu, Soludo said the administration’s approach to federalism did not surprise him, noting that Tinubu had consistently advocated greater devolution of powers during his tenure as Lagos State governor.
“I usually describe President Tinubu as the ‘Professor of Federalism’ because of his long-standing commitment to building a more functional federal structure,” Soludo said.
Drawing from his experience in Anambra State, the governor stressed the importance of effective collaboration among federal security agencies, state governments and private security outfits, adding that such coordination remains critical to tackling evolving security challenges.
He warned against treating security reforms in isolation, describing them as part of the country’s “unfinished business” in building a sustainable federal security and justice architecture.
According to Soludo, the current revenue-sharing arrangement places excessive financial power at the centre while leaving states with limited resources despite their growing constitutional responsibilities.
He argued that Nigeria’s fiscal structure should be fundamentally redesigned by reducing the Federal Government’s share to no more than 40 per cent, allowing states to receive significantly larger allocations to meet governance obligations.
The governor also identified the judiciary as one of the biggest obstacles to genuine federalism, describing Nigeria’s justice system as largely unitary despite ongoing conversations around decentralising security and correctional services.
Using Anambra as an example, he said many land-related disputes eventually reach the Supreme Court and can remain in litigation for decades, underscoring the need for judicial decentralisation.
To address the challenge, Soludo proposed the establishment of State Courts of Appeal and State Supreme Courts to align the justice system with the country’s evolving federal structure.
He also noted that responsibilities have increasingly shifted from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List without a corresponding adjustment in the revenue allocation formula, creating additional financial pressure on state governments.
Soludo expressed optimism about ongoing constitutional and policy discussions under the Tinubu administration, saying reforms should continue as states assume greater responsibilities, including the establishment and management of correctional facilities.
