Ex-Senator Na’Allah Praises Nigeria’s Constitution, Blames Implementation Gaps

Bala Ibn Na’Allah, former Deputy Senate Majority Leader and senator for Kebbi South, has described Nigeria’s Constitution as one of the most comprehensive legal frameworks globally, asserting that the nation’s governance challenges arise not from the document itself but from weak implementation.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Na’Allah said the Constitution was crafted to reflect Nigeria’s complex socio-political makeup, including its multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multicultural composition. He noted that the framers designed mechanisms to prevent domination by any single group.

“Our Constitution is robust and well-structured. The real problem lies with those tasked with enforcing its provisions,” he stated.

The former lawmaker highlighted that executive powers were intentionally decentralised through the Federal Executive Council (FEC), ensuring that authority is exercised collectively rather than concentrated in the presidency. Each state appoints a minister to represent its interests, and council meetings provide a platform for raising state-specific issues. During discussions, the president can issue directives, which are then followed up in subsequent meetings to ensure accountability.

Na’Allah emphasized that when properly executed, this system ensures balanced governance and responsive leadership. He maintained that recent administrations have largely adhered to this framework when operating in the true spirit of the Constitution.

His comments come amid renewed debates on constitutional reform, federalism, and restructuring. While critics argue that the 1999 Constitution centralises power excessively, Na’Allah insists that the focus should be on enforcing existing provisions and strengthening accountability mechanisms rather than rewriting the document.