A former Deputy Senate Majority Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, has described Nigeria’s Constitution as one of the best documents globally, arguing that the country’s major challenge lies not in the law itself but in its implementation.
Na’Allah, who represented Kebbi South Senatorial District under the All Progressives Congress, stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Monday.
“Our constitution is one of the best documents you can find anywhere in the world. Whether you believe me or you don’t believe me, that’s a different matter.
“Our major issue is those charged with the responsibility of implementing the letter and spirit of the constitution,” he said.
According to the former lawmaker, Nigeria’s constitutional framework was carefully designed to address the country’s multi-religious, multicultural and multi-ethnic realities, particularly concerns over domination in governance.
“The framers of our constitution said, OK, we are a multi-religious, multicultural, multi-ethnic society where fear of domination will be the determining factor in any governance,” he said.
He explained that executive powers were deliberately structured to be exercised collectively through the Federal Executive Council, rather than being concentrated solely in the office of the President.
“They said, OK, fine. We will not donate executive power to a president. What we will do is to ask every state to produce one minister who will come and form what is called Federal Executive Council and domicile that power with that council,” Na’Allah said.
He noted that beyond approving contracts, the Constitution envisages cabinet meetings as a forum where ministers would raise issues affecting their states, particularly during the “Any Other Business” segment of council meetings.
He added that the system allows relevant ministers to respond immediately, with the President giving directives and demanding progress reports at subsequent meetings.
“In every executive council meeting, there is what is called AOB.
“It’s expected, our constitution expects that at the end of that meeting, when AOB comes, the minister from Taraba will say, Mr President, Taraba, where I come from, this is the peculiarity of what people are going through.”
“And then the president directs and says, OK, if it has to do with interior, he says, OK, minister for interior, you have heard what minister for transport has said, for example.
“Can we have action taken and then report given to us in the next executive council meeting?” Na’Allah said.
When asked whether recent administrations had lived up to this constitutional expectation, the former senator responded in the affirmative.
“Yes, if it is the true spirit of governance,” he said.
The remarks come amid ongoing national debates on constitutional reform, federalism, and restructuring in Nigeria.
Critics have long argued that the 1999 Constitution, promulgated under military rule, overly centralises power at the federal level, stifling regional autonomy and exacerbating inequalities.
Proponents like Na’Allah, however, maintain that the document’s provisions are sound and that the focus should shift to enforcement and accountability.
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