President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is increasingly being viewed by some political observers as pursuing a gradual form of restructuring through constitutional amendments, policy reforms, and institutional changes rather than convening a Sovereign National Conference or initiating a wholesale constitutional rewrite.

Since assuming office in May 2023, the Tinubu administration has introduced a series of reforms that supporters argue are shifting more responsibilities and opportunities to states and sub-national governments. These measures include support for constitutional amendments, fiscal reforms, infrastructure decentralisation, and greater state participation in sectors that were previously dominated by the Federal Government.

One of the most significant developments has been the push for the establishment of state police. The administration transmitted constitutional amendment proposals to the National Assembly seeking to provide a legal framework for state-controlled police services. Supporters regard the proposal as a major step toward decentralising security, long considered a key component of restructuring.

The Federal Government has also continued implementing reforms in the electricity sector following the constitutional amendment that allows states to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity within their territories. Several states have since begun establishing independent electricity markets and regulatory agencies, reducing dependence on the national grid.

In the transport sector, the Federal Government approved measures allowing greater participation by state governments in railway operations. The recent granting of a permanent operating licence to the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) for the Red Line rail service marked the end of the Nigerian Railway Corporation’s long-standing monopoly and is widely seen as another example of increasing state involvement in critical infrastructure.

Economic reforms have also featured prominently. The removal of fuel subsidies, foreign exchange market reforms, tax restructuring efforts, and initiatives aimed at expanding internally generated revenue are intended to create a more sustainable fiscal environment while encouraging greater economic responsibility at both federal and state levels.

Supporters argue that these reforms collectively amount to “restructuring by legislation and policy” rather than through a single national conference. They contend that constitutional amendments passed through the National Assembly provide a lawful and incremental path to reforming Nigeria’s federal system without the uncertainties associated with convening a sovereign conference.

However, critics maintain that the administration has not delivered the comprehensive restructuring that many Nigerians expected. They argue that key issues such as fiscal federalism, resource control, local government autonomy, constitutional devolution of powers, and broader constitutional reforms remain unresolved. Some analysts have called for a more coordinated restructuring agenda to address longstanding governance challenges.

As debate continues, both supporters and critics agree that constitutional reform remains one of Nigeria’s most important national conversations. Whether the current administration’s incremental approach will achieve the broader objectives long associated with restructuring is likely to remain a subject of political and public discussion in the years ahead.