The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) stakeholders have called for greater autonomy for the FCT.
They appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to present an Executive Bill to the National Assembly seeking the separation of the office of the Governor of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The FSA, representing various FCT communities, argues that the current structure, where the President directly appoints and oversees the FCT Minister, undermines the democratic rights and development of the indigenous population.
They contended that the present arrangement hinders the FCT’s growth and prevents the region from achieving its full potential.
In the petition submitted to the Presidency, the Assembly outlined several key grievances.
Among them were , the perceived lack of autonomy in governance, alleging that the interests of FCT indigenes are often overlooked in favor of broader national priorities. This, it says, has resulted in inadequate representation, underdevelopment of indigenous communities, and a persistent marginalization of the FCT’s unique cultural heritage.
“The current system effectively renders the FCT a ‘colony’ within its own nation,” stated Dr Aliyu Daniel Kwali, the president of the Assembly, “We believe a separate governorship will empower the FCT to address its own specific challenges, foster local participation in governance, and enable the indigenous population to fully participate in the shaping of their own future.”
The FSA’s petition proposes a model where an elected governor, responsible to the FCT legislature, would oversee the administration of the territory. This, it argues, would ensure greater accountability, transparency, and responsiveness to the needs of the residents.
“While the Federal Capital was at the south western corner of the country, government was closer to us and we enjoyed all constitutional rights and freedoms associated with Nigerian citizenship. Each native could identify with one of the 36 federating units that are unavoidably recognized as States. We could aspire to all elective positions, like other Nigerians. We could vote and be voted for in all democratic elections including Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.” Aliyu said.
He continued that, regrettably, the transfer of the seat of power to the geographic center of Nigeria has pushed FCT natives to the furthest corner of democratic landscape. It has left us hanging precariously on the precipe’ of Nigerian citizenship .
By design, the Constitution that unambiguously guarantees our citizenship also states that .”the FCT( our place of origin) should be treated as if it were a state.” Certain people in positions of power who do not want Abuja natives to enjoy equal status with other citizens of Nigeria, mischievously interpret this section of the Constitution as though FCT natives are adopted children and should not expect to enjoy the same rights and freedoms as biological children. Specifically, some people in positions of power have connived to deny the natives of the FCT the right to be elected as Governor of a State, or member of a State House of Assembly.”
Recall that the debate over the status of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja was as old as the territory itself. This debate was unwittingly introduced by the military regime via Decree no. 6 of 1976.
One of the objectives for the transfer of the Federal Capital Territory , to a central location was the desire to make the central government easily and equally accessible to Nigerians from the four corners of the country , as if access to government resources is determined by one’s geographic location. Interestingly, relocation of the FCT to the center of Nigeria has pushed the natives of the center of Nigeria further away from government.
Remarkably, the second Republic civilian government of Alhaji Aliyu Shehu Shagari(GCFR),raised Abuja indigenous peoples’ hopes that they would be treated as full citizens of Nigeria. In January 1981, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) was established , and a civilian Administrator was appointed ( in accordance with the amended Decree no. 6 of 1976), to “ administer the Territory and look after the affairs of the original inhabitants not affected by the site selected for the building of the Federal Capital City (FCC) itself.
For ease of reference, the amended Decree no. 6 of 1976, goes as follows: Those who are not affected by the first phase of resettlement but wish to move out of the territory may do so, but such people will have no claims on FCDA as they are not being forced to leave. This in effect means that, inhabitants not moved out during the present exercise or those who have decided to stay, will now be deemed to be citizens of the Federal Capital Territory, and FCDA will soon appoint an Administrator to administer the Territory and look after their welfare; The present land gazetted as Federal Capital Territory will remain and the final one was that the site selected for the building of the Federal Capital City (FCC) itself will be evacuated and resettlement of the people so evacuated takes place within or outside the territory.
The first Administrator was Alhaji Ibrahim Majidadi. He was appointed Chief Executive of the FCTA in January 1982. The Secretariat of the FCTA is in Gwagwalada, present CIPB( Customs, Immigration, and Prisons Board). President Aliyu Shehu Shagari retained the position of FCT Minister to manage the affairs of the Federal Capital City. Unfortunately, the military intervention of 1983 muddled things up , and the FCTA that was established to cater for the democratic aspirations of the inhabitants was merged with the Ministry in the characteristic hierarchical manner of the military establishment. The aborted 1989 Constitution established an elective office of Mayor of Abuja, which of course was not of the same status as the Governor of a State,and so was again ‘to be treated as if it were Governor of a State.’
However, the move has ignited significant debate within political circles, with some analysts supporting the call for greater autonomy for the FCT, while others express concerns about potential administrative complexities and the implications for national security, but FSA has vowed to continue its advocacy until its demands are met, promising further actions if the petition is not favorably considered.
Human Rights Organizations and other concerned Nigerian and global citizens joined the original inhabitants to seek judicial interpretation of the status of Abuja.“
“We went through the hierarchy of the judiciary right up to the Supreme Court. After the 2023 presidential election, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, now President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, joined those demanding the correct interpretation of the status of Abuja. He went up to the Supreme Court also. The pronouncements were consistent. Now, it is authoritative. The FCT, Abuja is a STATE! It is like any other state in Nigeria: no more, no less” Aliyu said
He added that with the backing of the Supreme Court of Nigeria,
we hereby appeal that Mr. President should present before the National Assembly, an Executive Bill for the separation of the Office of the Governor of the FCT-Abuja, from the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and separation of the FCT House of Assembly from the National Assembly. We so appeal.
By Niyi Lawal