Decree 34 Of 1966 And Its Deleterious Consequences On Nigeria’s Federalism.
By Sir Don Ubani; KSC, JP
Monday (Nkwo) 17-02-2025.
It has taken Nigerian Federalists about forty-six years, 1979-2025, fighting for the restoration of true federalism in Nigeria, as enshrined in 1963 Republican Constitution, without any headway.
Out of meticulous consideration and on their own volution, the founding fathers of Nigeria collectively resolved to run a Central Government that was purely based on the principles of Federalism. They appreciated that Nigeria was a multi-ethnic and religious country and, so, was heterogeneous. It was, therefore, convincing to them that Federalism was the best system of Government for Nigeria. Hence, they adopted the Federalist Republican Constitution of 1963.
By the Republican Constitution of 1963, with only four Regions, East, Mid-West, North, and West, every Region was constitutionally at liberty to develop in accordance with its ability, and at its own pace. Each Region harnessed and developed its natural resources and human capital to its maximum advantage. There was healthy competition among the four Regions, and developments were continuously recorded in all sectors of their economy.
Unlike the current non-competitive approach which makes the Sub-nations (States) lazy and uncreative, none of the four Regions in Nigeria’s First Republic had any need to run to Lagos, then Capital of Nigeria, with cap in hand, asking for fiscal allocation from the Centre. The Regions were the hubs of productivity, from where the wealth of the Federation was created. Instead of going to Lagos to collect monthly allocations, the Regional Governments consolidated in their respective Regions and, rather, paid Royalties to the Federal Government. Each Region had its area(s) of comparative advantage.
While the East was lucratively famous for Palm Produce, Mid-West made fortunes from Rubber, the North earned a favourable name through its Groundnut Pyramids, and the West achieved economic buoyancy from her investment in Cocoa. No Region was dependent on the Centre. This was as a result of the stipulations and intendment of the 1963 Republican Constitution.
It was unfortunate that, following the January 15, 1966 Military Coup led by Majors Patrick Kaduna Chukwuma Nzogwu, and Emmanuel Ifeajuna, Major-General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi abrogated the 1963 Republican Constitution. One of the most untutored, unguided and irresponsible steps Ironsi took was promulgation of Decree No. 34 of 1966, which he named Unification Decree. That obnoxious Decree nullified the existence of Regional Governments and made the Centre overbearingly dictatorial in everything, including Nigeria’s Economy.
The Unification Decree was one of the major reasons for which Military Officers of Northern extraction, led by Lt-Col Murtala Mohammed, executed a counter coup that killed and toppled Ironsi on July 28, 1966. The North was not happy that Ironsi abolished the Regions which gave them, at least, a sense of regional autonomy.
Ironically, the same North that was visibly opposed to Decree No.34 and its purported Unification, is the North that has done everything in the past forty-six years making sure that Decree No.34 remains the basis upon which Nigeria continues to exist, only to its advantage but unwaveringly to the disadvantage and discomfort of the South.
Whatever inconvenience the South is going through today in Nigeria, General Aguiyi-Ironsi, even in his grave, remains the root cause of the problem.
Now that one of the strongest advocates of Restructuring in Nigeria, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has died, it is advised that Nigerians who still believe that Unilateralism should give way to Federalism should not rest on their oars until this noble cause is eventually realized and Nigeria will be done with the naivety of 1966.
Sir Don Ubani, Okwubunka of Asa and Oke Amadi Gburugburu, is a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Abia State, Publisher of Equity Reporters.net, and writes from his native Asa land beautifully situated between Aba in Abia State and Port-Harcourt in Rivers State.
