Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has called for a fundamental review of Nigeria’s federal system, saying stronger institutions and a return to federalist principles are needed to address the country’s developmental challenges.

Makinde made the call in his Independence Day message marking Nigeria’s 66th anniversary, urging citizens to reflect on the country’s progress and the system inherited from its founding fathers.

“Sixty-six years after independence, what kind of country have we built from what our founding fathers handed over to us?” he asked.

The governor said state governments should have the authority and resources to address challenges within their jurisdictions, questioning whether Nigeria was functioning effectively as a federation when key decisions had to be referred to Abuja.

He said the current arrangement sometimes prevents state governments from acting on issues they have the capacity and willingness to address, affecting security, infrastructure, job creation, natural resource development and local economies.

“These are not abstract constitutional questions. These are questions that affect our security, how quickly infrastructure can be delivered, our ability to create jobs, develop our natural resources and grow local economies,” he said.

Drawing from his experience as governor, Makinde said his administration had encountered situations where it knew what needed to be done but lacked the authority to act.

He linked the concerns to his proposed “Reset Nigeria” agenda, which he described as an effort to identify institutional weaknesses and introduce changes to improve governance.

The governor also cautioned against measuring national progress solely through economic indicators, saying growth, lower inflation, increased revenue and foreign investment must improve people’s living conditions.

“When governments speak about progress, Nigerians must be able to look at their own lives and say: Yes, I can see it. I can feel it. My life is better,” he said.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, Makinde said the Reset Agenda would set measurable targets and explain how progress would be assessed annually.

He maintained that one term in office would be sufficient to carry out an institutional reset across key sectors, expressing confidence that Nigeria could work with the right institutions.

“I remain convinced that Nigeria can work. I believe that deeply,” he said.

“Nigeria will work when we build the institutions that make progress possible.”

Makinde said his vision was a country where government worked for every citizen, adding that making Nigeria work for all was the ultimate goal of resetting the country.