gidgiddy:


Take more time to read decree 34, it only standardised the civil service. The decree called the Regions "groups of Provinces". Thats what they were any way. Its the same as calling a state a "group of local governments", thats what a state in Nigeria is.

Decree 34 never broke up anything. It did not take away resource control nor cancel fiscal federalism.

It only standardised the civil service .

How can you have a standardized(unified) civil service and still have resource control? Who will grant mining licenses, manage the natural resources,collect the revenue and share the revenue?

Now in the 6 months of General Ironsi, how did it operate? Who was collecting the resources?

In order word Gowan should be blamed for decree 34 n not Ojukwu that formulated n implemented according to igbo jaundiced opinion.

jamjo:

Gowan had an ample opportunity to kill decree 34, Buhari did not implement the 2014 Confab Jonathan left for him, Gowan would have done the same but he went ahead with the creation of states.

gidgiddy:
I was in a zoom meeting recently where we were discussing Nigeria and where we got it wrong. Someone said in the meeting that Nigeria headed down the wrong lane when Major General Ironsi abolished Regionalism and introduced unitary rule.

This is completely false! Ironsi neither abolished the Regions nor did he introduce unitary rule.

The simple way anyone can know that Ironsi did not do these things is to check the date Ironsi died. Ironsi was killed on 29th of July 1966. The 4 Regions of the time, Western Region, Eastern Region, Northern Region and Midwest Region, were all existing on 29th July 1966, and all 4 of them had resource control and practiced the revenue sharing formular agreed at independence. In fact, all 4 Regions were existing even into 1967 when Gowon officially dissolved the 4 Regional structure and replaced them with 12 states, and took away resource control. The 12 states Gowon created were further subdivided by different military regimes until we arrived at the 36 we have today


So if the 4 Regions were existing and had resource control on the day Ironsi died, how is it possible that Ironsi was the one who dissolved the Regions and introduced unitary rule?

It would have required Ironsi rising up from the dead to have been the one who dissolved Regionalism

Just seeing this..
Great write up.
Our fear fear neighbors who helped Gowon destroy regionalism so they can steal Niger Delta oil are the ones trying to pin this to Ironsi!
A man muted an idea and got killed for that and half a century later, they are still blaming the man they killed for the same reasons they killed him!
Very nauseating set of revisionists

wirinet:


How can you have a standardized(unified) civil service and still have resource control? Who will grant mining licenses, manage the natural resources,collect the revenue and share the revenue?

Now in the 6 months of General Ironsi, how did it operate? Who was collecting the resources?

You can have a standised civil service and it will not affect resource control. In the time of the Regions, it was the Regions that control their resources. Wether the Federal Government granted mining licence or not, whatever accrued in the Region went to Region, and the Region paid the federal government an agreed tax.

In other words, unlike what obtains now where 36 unitary states are paid every month by the federal government, so as to survive, in Ironsi's time, the 4 Region's paid for the Federal government to survive.

That is federalism, the Regions contribute for the centre to function. Ironsi maintained that


But what did Gowon do? Gowon came in and enacted Decree 14 of 1967, which dissolved the 4 Regions, replaced them with 12 unitary states, and cancelled resource control so that his government was now the one paying for those 12 states to survive

Let nobody blame Ironsi for what Gowon did

wirinet:


Please stop arguing like a thirsty stubborn goat that refuses to be led to the river to drink water. You are just holding on the the false view that Gowon destroyed Nigeria's regionalism instead of Ironsi purely on sentimental and emotional reasons instead of fact. Many people have educated you but you stubbornly refuse to drink from their fountain of knowledge.

Read decree 34 of 1966 by General Ironsi. Why do you think he labelled it the Unification Decree?
Ironsi abolished the federation structure of government with regions as the federating units and converted them to a unitary form of government with the same regions as its component units. Whether you call then provinces,regions or states it does not matter. The fact that he continued to call them regions did not change the fact that they lost their independence to the centre. Some countries refer to their Federating components as states instead of regions. What is the difference between states, regions or provinces? Gowon simply changed the appellation from regions to states.

The 4 Regions of the time only lost democracy, they did not lose true federalism. All 4 Regions existed right
up to the day Ironsi died. They controlled their resources and paid the agreed tax to federal government that was agreed at independence.

So in what way did Ironsi abolish Regions and introduce unitary rule?

It was Gowon that came in and enacted Decree 14 of 1967 which abolished the 4 Regions he(Gowon) inherited from Ironsi, created 12 states, took away resource control and abrogated the revenue sharing formular agreed at independence

If you want to know who really abolished Regionalism and introduced unitary rule, Google Gowons Decree 14 of 1967

That Decree is what led to Ojukwu declaring Biafra

Akwamkpuruamu:


If it was abolished, how come we still had the four regions, fully operational with military governors?

not operational
you can't rewrite history
it was just names
just as SW,SS are just names

This is the letters of the Unification Decree: No. 34 of 1966 under discussion as proclaimed by Ironsi on 24th May 1966. Going through it painstakingly will help.

THE FEDERAL MILITARY GOVERNMENT hereby decrees as follows:

Subject to the provisions of this Decree, Nigeria shall on 24th May 1966 (in this decree referred to as ‘the appointed day’) cease to be a Federation and shall accordingly as from that day be a Republic, by the name of the Republic of Nigeria, consisting of the whole of the territory which immediately before that day was comprised in the Federation.
2.

As from the appointed day—

the Federal Military Government and the Federal Executive Council shall be known respectively as the National Military Government and The Executive Council;
the Federal territory shall be known as the Capital territory;
the provinces, including Kaduna capital territory, in schedule 1 of this Decree which immediately before the appointed day were respectively comprised in Northern Nigeria, Eastern Nigeria, Western Nigeria and Mid-Western Nigeria shall be known respectively as the Northern group of Provinces, the Eastern group of Provinces, the Western group of Provinces and the Mid-Western group of Provinces;
for the purpose of administration each group of provinces shall subject to the authority of the Head of the National Military Government, be under the general direction and control of a Military Governor appointed by the Head of the National Military Government;
Act No. 20 of 1963 (that is to say the Constitution of the Federation) may be cited as the Constitution of the Republic.
Without prejudice to section 8 of this Decree, the person who immediately before the appointed day holds the office of Military Governor of a Region shall be deemed to have been appointed by the Head of the National Military Government as Military Governor of the corresponding group of provinces with effect from that day.
The National Military Government may either conditionally or unconditionally delegate to a Military Governor of a group of provinces power to make laws by edict for peace, order and good government with respect to any matter specified in the delegation in relation to that group of provinces.
Subject to this and any other Decree, a Military Governor of a group of provinces may exercise by way of edict or, as the case may be, by regulation, order, or instrument the powers and functions vested in the Executive Council of the Government of a former Region, or of the Governor, Premier, or Minister (except in relation to criminal prosecutions) of a government of a former Region under any existing law with respect to that group of provinces; and accordingly sections 3 (2), (3), (5), (6), and (7) and section 4 (6) of the Constitution (Suspension and Modification) Decree 1966 (in this Decree referred to as the ‘principal Decree’) shall cease to have effect.
Subsection (4) shall be without prejudice to section 8 of this Decree, and the repeal by that subsection of any provision of the principal Decree shall not affect the operation of that provision in relation to any time before the appointed day.
Any Edict made by the Military Governor of a Region which is in force immediately before the appointed day shall, as from that day, have effect as a Decree applying only to the group of provinces which corresponds to that region; and references to a Decree shall be construed accordingly.
In this subsection ‘Edict’ includes a decree made as mentioned in section 4 (6) of the principal Decree.

Notwithstanding section 1 of this Decree, on and after the appointed day—
the provisions of the constitution of each former Region which are not for the time being suspended shall, in relation to the corresponding group of provinces, have effect as modified by the combined operation of the principal Decree, as amended, and this Decree; and
the constitution of each former Region may be cited as the Constitution of the Northern, Eastern, Western or Mid-Western group of Provinces, as the case may be, and references to the constitution of a group of provinces shall be construed accordingly.
3. 1. As from the appointed day all offices in the service of the Republic in a civil capacity shall be offices in a single service to be known as the National Public Service; and accordingly all persons who immediately before that day are members of the public service of the Federation or of the public service of a Region shall on that day become members of the National Public Service:

Provided that this subsection shall not apply to the office of the Attorney-General of the Republic or of a group of Provinces.

2. As from the appointed day—

a. the Public Service Commission established under section 146 of the Constitution of the Republic shall be known as the National Public Service Commission, and references in that section and elsewhere to the Public Service Commission of the Federation shall be amended accordingly;

b. all Regional Public Service Commissions established under the appropriate provisions of the Constitutions of the Regions shall be known as the Provincial Public Service Commissions, and be known as the Provincial Public Service Commissions created under the Constitutions of the Regions shall be construed accordingly.

3. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Constitution of the Republic or of a group of Provinces, the members of the Public Service Commission of the Federation and of the Regions who, immediately before the appointed day hold office, shall continue in office until the appointments expire or are sooner revoked, and fresh appointments are made.

4.1 Subject to the provisions of this section, power to appoint persons to hold or act in offices in the National Public Service (including power to make appointments on promotion and to confirm appointments) and to dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in such offices shall, as from the appointed day, vest in the National Public Service Commission.

2. The National Public Service Commission may, with the approval of the Head of the National Military Government, either conditionally or unconditionally delegate any of its powers under subsection (1) above to any person or authority in Nigeria.

3. Subject to subsections (4) and (6) below, all the powers of the National Public Service Commission under subsection (1) above in respect of any office in the National Public Service carrying an initial salary not exceeding £2,292, shall be treated as having been delegated to the appropriate Provincial Public Service Commission.

4. Any delegation effected under subsection (2) above (including any delegation which in accordance with subsection (3) above or subsection (6) below is to be treated as having been effected under subsection (2) above) may be varied or revoked by the National Public Service Commission with the approval of the Head of the National Military Government.

5. Subsection (1) above shall not apply in relation to any of the following offices—

a. the office of any judge of the Supreme Court, the High Court of Lagos, the High Court of a group of provinces or the Sharia Court of Appeal;

b. the office of economic adviser to the republic;

c. except for the purpose of making appointments thereto, the office of the Director of Audit of the Republic and the office of the Director of Audit of a group of provinces;

d. the office of Magistrate and Justice of Peace;

e. any office in the Nigeria Police Force;

f. any office to which section 148 of the Constitution of the Republic applies.

6. Without prejudice to subsection (4) above or to section 8 of this Decree, any delegation effected under section 147 of the Constitution of the Federation, or under the corresponding section of the constitution of a Region, which is in force immediately before the appointed day shall, as from that day be deemed to have been appointed day shall, as from that day, be deemed to have been duly effected by the National Public Service Commission under subsection (2) above.

7. The provisions of this section shall be subject to the provisions of section 5 of this decree.

5.1. Power to appoint persons to hold or act in the office of permanent secretary to any department of government of the Republic or any other office of equivalent rank in the National Public Service, and to remove persons so appointed from any such office shall, as from the appointed day, vest in the Supreme Military Council.

2. Before appointing any person by virtue of this section, the Supreme Military Council shall consult the National Public Service Commission.

3. Subsection (1) above shall not apply in relation to any of the offices mentioned in section 4 (5) of this Decree.

6. As from the appointed day the members of the Police Service Commission shall be appointed by the Head of the National Military Government; and accordingly in the entry in Schedule 2 of the principal Decree relating to section 109 of the Constitution of the Republic, for the words ‘Federal Executive Council’ in both places where they occur, there shall, as from the appointed day, be substituted the words ‘Head of the National Military Government’.

7. 1. As from the appointed day, the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic mentioned in Schedule 2 of this Decree shall be suspended.

2. As from the appointed day—

a. the provisions of the constitution of each group of provinces which are men-

tioned in Schedule 3 of this Decree shall be suspended; and

b. Schedule 4 of the principal Decree shall have effect subject to the amendments specified in Schedule 4 of this Decree.

8. 1. As from the appointed day the principal Decree, as amended, shall have effect with

such modifications (whether by way of addition, alteration or omission) as may be

necessary to bring it, and through it—

a. the unsuspended provisions of the Constitution of the Republic and of the constitution of each group of provinces; and

b. all existing law within the meaning of subsection (1) of section 12 of the principal Decree, so far as in force immediately before the appointed day; and

c. all other law which would be existing law within the meaning of the said subsection (1) if the references in that subsection to 16th January 1966 were references to the appointed day; into conformity with this Decree.

2. Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) above, section 13 of the

principal Decree (which makes provision for the saving of existing offices, appointments, etc.) shall, with such modifications as may be necessary in consequence of this Decree, have effect in relation to the appointed day in like manner as it has effect in relation to 16th January 1966.

3. Nothing in this Decree shall affect the validity of anything done before the appointed day.

9. In this Decree, and in any other law—

‘enactment’ includes any provision of a Decree;

‘group of provinces’ means the Northern Group of Provinces, the Eastern Group of Provinces, the Western Group of Provinces or the Mid-Western Group of Provinces;

‘the Military Governor’, in relation to a group of provinces, means the Military Governor of that Group of Provinces;

‘the Northern Group of Provinces’, the Eastern Group of Provinces’, the Western Group of Provinces and the ‘Mid-Western Group of Provinces’ have the respective meanings assigned in section 2 (1) © of this Decree.

10. Every Decree made on or after the appointed day shall apply throughout Nigeria except in so far as the contrary intention appears therein.



Source: The Constitution (Suspension and Modification) (No. 5) Decree 1966, Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette no. 51, vol. 53, 24 May 1966, A153.



The Schedules have been omitted here.



Courtesy Nowa Omoigui

Aboki cows and their Yoruba side chicks are not the smartest breed of people when it comes to using mere logic and cognitive reasoning. The REAL question that the OP should have posited to these clowns is this: It has been established that Ironsi abolished the regional structure of government, and we all know from historical facts that the reason Ironsi was killed few months later was because the North deeply suspected/feared Ironsi's unification decree was geared towards enthroniing Igbo domination over the rest of Nigeria, the fear of Igbo domination was so rife in all parts of Nigeria at the time simply because Igbos were pretty much ahead of every ethnic group in Nigeria in all key positions of government at the end (a situation even the British had to admit when they granted Nigeria independence)... so Ironsi's unification decree didn't help matters as it further exacerbated the already boiling fears and anti-Igbo passions across the country... Ironsi himself was a complete nuisance, he did more trying to please the North rather than take a firm stand on his government by crushing hints of rebellious sentiments among Northern leaders, diplomats, and military hierarchy... lots of Igbo officers warned Ironsi to be ruthless like a soldier and stop surrounding himself with Northern soldiers because they were the same people that would turn their rifles on him once the stage was set... but just like Afonja who surrounded himself with fulani advisers and soldiers at the expense of his people, Ironsi was simply too naive, arrogant and dull to recognize he was a lone deer among a pack of hyenas, this fool kept trusting the North thinking they would have his back since he was "nice" to them... unfortunately it wasn't to be and he met his fatal end at the hands of the same people he stupidly entrusted his life to.

Now the million dollar question is, since the North and their Yoruba slaves killed Ironsi and hundreds of Igbo officers in the ensuing pogrom because of their fear of Ironsi's decree and Igbo domination, how come did Gowon when he was appointed as Supreme head of state not abrogate the same unification decree for which they shed so much blood to prevent?

How come the Nzeogwu coup was tagged an Igbo coup even when there were participants from other tribes including Northerners as a result of which tens of thousands of Igbo lives had to be wasted , but the Dimka coup which was a "Middle belt coup" didn't lead to the massacre of Middle belt people?

jamjo:




Gowan had an ample opportunity to kill decree 34, Buhari did not implement the 2014 Confab Jonathan left for him, Gowan would have done the same but he went ahead with the creation of states.

There was a need for state creation.

AbaLion:

Facts are sacrosanct no matter how hard you might try to spin it.
Facts are staring at you and spitting your lying face.
Decree 34 was also known as " the Unification decree". All federal structures, resources control, civil service were collapsed under a unitary system under the control of a stronger central government. The regions were broken into provinces.
I wonder how you guys passed through elementary school if basic comprehension could be this hard on you.

-Lion

And Jesus died on two pieces of wood on Friday 13th April 0000. Fact!

2elliot:
How come Ojukwu was a regional governor even after the death of Ironsi?

Gowon retained him(Ojukwu) as the governor after the coup

Yoruba like to point fingers only at a dead military General, for example they will blame a dead Abach for June 12 than blame a living IBB. The same thing they will blame Ironsi for actions of Gowon who abolished the regions he inherited from Ironsi and replaced them. With 12 states.

gidgiddy:


The 4 Regions of the time only lost democracy, they did not lose true federalism. All 4 Regions existed right

This statement is an oxymoron. How can you lose democracy and at the same time gain true federalism? Federalism mean a federation of independence or semi independent regions, states or provinces. How can you be independent and at the same time be subservient to a federal government?

The very first paragraph of decree 34 states;

Subject to the provisions of this Decree, Nigeria shall on 24th May 1966 (in this decree referred to as ‘the appointed day’) cease to be a Federation and shall accordingly as from that day be a Republic, by the name of the Republic of Nigeria, consisting of the whole of the territory which immediately before that day was comprised in the Federation.

I am at loss as to how you process information. A statement says federation has been ceased or abolished and you read it to mean a federation has been created. Is that rational thinking?

up to the day Ironsi died. They controlled their resources and paid the agreed tax to federal government that was agreed at independence.

How can the regions control their resources and pay the agreed tax to federal government when General Ironsi had already suspended the constitution? Who agreed on what and when?

Ojiofor:
Yoruba like to point fingers only at a dead military General, for example they will blame a dead Abach for June 12 than blame a living IBB. The same thing they will blame Ironsi for actions of Gowon who abolished the regions he inherited from Ironsi and replaced them. With 12 states.

Abacha along with about 12 other senior military officers - Olurin, Dongoyaro, David Mark, Akogun, akilu, Togun, we're the ones actually responsible for the annulment of June 12. It's was more or less a military coup and IBB was held hostage for 3 days. Remember the letter annuling June 12 was never signed by anyone.

You can close your ears and scream " Gowon killed Nigeria's 1963 constitution and subsequently true federalism, it can't stop people like us shouting the truth. One day you might just hear.

wirinet:

Abacha along with about 12 other senior military officers - Olurin, Dongoyaro, David Mark, Akogun, akilu, Togun, we're the ones actually responsible for the annulment of June 12. It's was more or less a military coup and IBB was held hostage for 3 days. Remember the letter annuling June 12 was never signed by anyone.

You can close your ears and scream " Gowon killed Nigeria's 1963 constitution and subsequently true federalism, it can't stop people like us shouting the truth. One day you might just hear.

The undisputable fact remains that Gowon/Awo dissolved 4 regions and created 12 states taking away true federalism and resource control just to get at the Igbos.

wirinet:

This statement is an oxymoron. How can you lose democracy and at the same time gain true federalism? Federalism mean a federation of independence or semi independent regions, states or provinces. How can you be independent and at the same time be subservient to a federal government?

The very first paragraph of decree 34 states;

I am at loss as to how you process information. A statement says federation has been ceased or abolished and you read it to mean a federation has been created. Is that rational thinking?


How can the regions control their resources and pay the agreed tax to federal government when General Ironsi had already suspended the constitution? Who agreed on what and when?

The topic at hand is if it was Ironsi that abolished Regions and introduced unitary rule. Whether Ironsi changed Nigeria from a federation to a Republic is neither here nor there. A country can be both a federation and a Republic, in fact, Nigeria is often referred to as a "Federal Republic". Republic simply means that the people are now self governing.

The important questions that matter is, did Ironsi abolish Regionalism? Did he introduce unitary rule?

He did not abolish Regionalism because the 4 Regions he met when he came to power were existing on the day he died, and even months after

Did he introduce unitary rule? He did not because all 4 Regions had resource control and paid the tax agreed at independence to the centre.

Compare that to Gowon who came in, dissolved all 4 Regions, replaced them with 12 unitary states, cancelled resource control as well as the revenue sharing formular agreed at independence, and put all resources in the hands of the central government

The plain truth is that Ironsi did not abolish Regionalism and he did not introduce unitary rule, Gowon did that with Decree 14 of 1967, many months after Ironsi died

AbaLion:

I'd rather advice you read through the decree. It's as clear as daylight.
The regions became weaker, the center was stronger such that the center was in total control of the structures of the Regions.

-Lion

The Western Region had its own embassy in the UK before Ironsi's Coup

The Federal Govt later took over the Western Region's embassy building on Great Portland Street in London

nku5:


How could he have dissolved regions when there were regional governors

Nigerians are not so smart. Some people out there still think Goodluck Jonathan ruled for 6 years when it can be easily googled

Who were the military governors reporting to? Was it not the centre? If the governors were not autonomous but reporting to the centre, it simply means they were practising a central government.

Even though, they were called Regional governors.

The hitherto Regional Governement Headed by Premiers had a large degree of autonomy.

2elliot:
How come Ojukwu was a regional governor even after the death of Ironsi?

Regional was only a name. He was appointed by the centre and reporting to the centre.

It was when he tried to break away from the centre that he declared succession.

gidgiddy:


You are talking about two different things here. Nobody is denying that Ironsi was running a military dictatorship without the pillars of democracy.

What is being disputed is if it was Ironsi that abolished Regionalism and introduced unitary rule.

How could Ironsi have been the one that abolished Regionalism if the 4 Regions he met on the ground were still existing the day he died?

How is it possible that Ironsi introduced unitary rule when all 4 Regions had resource control and fiscal federalism right up to the day Ironsi died?

What is unitary rule again pls? Was he not a unilateral leader? Or were the regions he governed operating independently of him?

agabusta:


Who were the military governors reporting to? Was it not the centre? If the governors were not autonomous but reporting to the centre, it simply means they were practising a central government.

Even though, they were called Regional governors.

The hitherto Regional Governement Headed by Premiers had a large degree of autonomy.

Unprepared students work to answer.
Smart students just present the facts.
Fajuyi was Governor of the West till he died. His office did not change much from Akintola's responsibilities as premier of the West.
Since the soverign was no longer the people, as in a democracy, the military governor was more like the colonial governors, and the administration of the exchequer was no different.

2elliot:
Does that mean that even though he made those decrees, they were not implemented until after his death? Cos Ojukwu still acted as the military governor of the eastern region until may of 1977, and not province as u imply.

What are you People saying now?? Was the military not appointing military governors throughout their regime? Does that in any way confer independence or separate the entities the military governors governed from the central military government?

If they don't follow the order and commands of the central military government will they not be sacked and booted out without the battling of eyelids and a replacement put forward?

So which Regionalism are you talking about? Regionalism in name only I guess.

agabusta:


What are you People saying now?? Was the military not appointing military governors throughout their regime? Does that in any way confer independence or separate the entities the military governors governed from the central military government?

If they don't follow the order and commands of the central military government will they not be sacked and booted out without the battling of eyelids and a replacement put forward?

So which Regionalism are you talking about? Regionalism in name only I guess.

Mister, the regions were there.
The heads of the regions were identified by their regions.
Fajuyi was governor of the western region until his death.
His successor Adeyinka adebayo, was, again, governor of the western region from 4th August, 1966, till 27th may, 1967,
when His Excellency, General Gowon dissolved the regions,by Decree no. 14,
and created Western state.
then adeyinka Adebayo became governor of the Western state.

agabusta:


What are you People saying now?? Was the military not appointing military governors throughout their regime? Does that in any way confer independence or separate the entities the military governors governed from the central military government?

If they don't follow the order and commands of the central military government will they not be sacked and booted out without the battling of eyelids and a replacement put forward?

So which Regionalism are you talking about? Regionalism in name only I guess.

You are talking about democracy. The arguement is not about democracy. Ghana had several Military Regimes just like Nigeria, but Ghana always had Regions, even to this day

What happend to the 4 Regions Nigeria had in January 1966? Did Ironsi abolish them as has been alleged? Did he introduce unitary rule?

The truth is that Ironsi never abolished the 4 Regions, all 4 were existing the day he died

He did not introduce unitary rule as all 4 Regions had resource control and practiced fiscal federalism throughout Ironsi's tenure

What is hard to understand here?

agabusta:


Who were the military governors reporting to? Was it not the centre? If the governors were not autonomous but reporting to the centre, it simply means they were practising a central government.

Even though, they were called Regional governors.

The hitherto Regional Governement Headed by Premiers had a large degree of autonomy.

Arguing for argument sake...

Do you know the nature of the military in the first place? The regions could still make laws. Go and read the decree well. Ironsi is the most democratic military ruler in history.

Those who argue here that Ironsi didn't abolish the region and federalism should tell us in very simple language what exactly Ironsi meant with the bolded lines in his national broadcast of May 24 1966 as reproduced below in part:


Ironsi's Broadcast to the Nation banning
Political Parties and introducing Decree No. 34, 24 May 1966.



Fellow Nigerians:
During the past two weeks I presided over meetings of the Supreme
Military council and the Central Executive Council at which many
important state matters were considered. . .
It is now three months since the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was handed over to the Armed Forces. Now that peace has been restored in the troubled areas it is time that the Military
Government indicates clearly what it proposes to accomplish before relinquishing power. The removal of one of the obstacles on the way is provided for in the Constitution (Suspension and Modification)
Decree (No. 5) 1966 which was promulgated by me today and comes into effect at once.
The provisions of the Decree are intended to remove the last
vestiges of the intense regionalism of the recent past, and to
produce that cohesion in the governmental structure which is so necessary in achieving, and maintaining the paramount objective of the National Military government, and indeed of every true Nigerian,
namely, national unity.
The highlights of this Decree are as follows:
The former regions are abolished, and Nigeria grouped into a number
of territorial areas called provinces. . . .
Nigeria ceases to be what has been described as a federation. It
now becomes simply the Republic of Nigeria.
The former Federal Military government and the Central Executive Council become respectively the National Military Government and the
executive Council.
All the Military Governors are members of the
Executive Council.
A Military Governor is assigned to a group of provinces over which and subject to the direction and control of the Head of the National Military Government, he shall exercise executive power. In order to
avoid any major dislocation of the present administrative machinery,
the grouping of the provinces has been made to coincide with the
former regional boundaries. This is entirely a transitional measure
and must be understood as such. [The present grouping of the
provinces is without prejudice to the Constitutional and
Administrative arrangements to be embodied in the New Constitution in
accordance with the wishes of the people of Nigeria.
The National Military Government assumes the exercise of all legislative powers throughout the Republic subject to such
delegations to Military Governors as are considered necessary for
purposes of efficient administration.
The public services of the former federation and regions become
unified into one national public service under a National Public Service Commission. There is a provincial Service Commission for each group of provinces to which is delegated functions in respect of
public officers below a given rank. This rather drastic change will
probably involve a reconstitution of the existing commissions, and
the National Military Government reserves the right to do so in the
manner stipulated in the Decree. Until this is done, the present
Commissioners continue to act in their posts. Every civil servant is now called upon to see his function in any part of Nigeria in which he is serving in the context of the whole country. The orientation
should now be towards national unity and progress. I expect all
civil servants to co-operate and to consult at all levels, vertically
and horizontally, between groups of Provinces and between Provinces
and the Centre.