Law Reform Conference Seeks More Powers For States, LGs
Participants at the maiden Conference of All Law Reform Commissions in Nigeria have called for comprehensive reforms of the country’s legislative framework to address structural imbalances in federalism, strengthen local
Nigeria's federal structure has long been a subject of debate, with critics arguing that the 1999 Constitution concentrates excessive power and revenue at the centre, leaving states and local governments heavily dependent on federal allocations. Calls for restructuring, resource control and genuine local government autonomy have featured in successive national conversations, including past constitutional conferences and the Supreme Court's 2024 ruling affirming direct allocation of funds to local governments, yet implementation of such reforms has remained slow.
The maiden Conference of All Law Reform Commissions brought together state and federal law reform bodies to examine how Nigeria's legal and legislative framework can be updated to reflect these federalism concerns. Coverage from ThisDay and Punch both report that participants pushed for devolution of powers to states, stronger local government autonomy and fiscal federalism, though neither account details specific legislative proposals, a timeline for reform, or which body would be responsible for driving any changes forward.