Rethinking State Creation in Nigeria: Autonomy Over Parity

Nigeria’s independence constitution allowed small and large regions to coexist without demanding equal federal representation. It treated state creation as a response to local autonomy, not as a route to parity in federal institutions. The 1999 constitution disrupted that balance by granting every state equal influence in the Senate, federal projects, presidential elections and appointments. This parity ignores population and economic contribution, especially when oil revenue is less than 3% of GDP. Representation should follow economic weight and population size. Regions like the Berom, with over four million people, deserve more autonomy and fairer federal resources. Moving away from forced parity could boost development, strengthen local governance and honour Nigeria’s original constitutional vision.

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