Proposals from the Mid-West Delegation for an Interim Administration pending a New Constitution

The Supreme Commander and Head of the Federal Military Government has
announced his desire for an early return to civilian rule. In the
view of the Mid-West Delegation, the following factors, among others,
would appear to govern the length of time it might take for the
country to return to complete civilian rule:
the situation in the Army; arrangements leading to the emergence of
new regions, in the light of the Northern Delegation's proposals for
the creation of new states, and the time required for the process of
bringing the new constitution into being. The events of the past nine
months have created a crisis of confidence amongst military personnel
and affected public confidence amongst military personnel and
affected public confidence in the Nigerian Army. This confidence
must be restored quickly if the Army is to resume its proper place
and role in national life. It would appear to be beyond question that
the Army stands in need of reorganization if it is to cease to be a
house divided against itself, and if it is to provide adequately for
the future prospects and careers of all officers and men,
particularly those officers and men most intimately affected by the
events of the last nine months and especially those officers who,
since the events of January 1966, have been burdened with politico-
military responsibilities.This is a major task and it does not appear
on present evidence that a purely internal solution by the Army
itself is possible or likely. The Mid-West Delegation suggests
therefore that a Committee of Military and Civilian Leaders should be
set up to examine the problem.
It is suggested that:

i. the Committee should consist of:
Supreme Commander and Head of Military Government, (b) Army Chief of
Staff, Heads of Navy and Air Force, (c) Inspector General of Police,
(d) Regional Military Governors and Administrator of Lagos, (e) Heads
of Delegation to Ad Hoc Committee, (f) Two Christian and two Moslem
Religious Leaders.
ii. the Committee could be served by a Subcommittee consisting of:
Supreme Commander and Head of Military Government, (b) Army Chief of
Staff, (c) Regional Military Governors, (d) Heads of Delegations.
iii. since the subject under consideration is essentially an Army
problem, the Committee could be composed as at (ii), dispensing with
the need for a Subcommittee.
Among the solutions, which the Committee might consider are:
whether or not an external agency should be invited to advise upon,
and assist in, reorganization of the Army; if so,
whether such external agency should be:
a Commonwealth country or countries; (b: the Organization for African
Unity; or (c) the United Nations Organization.
The argument in favor of the association of civilian leaders with the
military in reorganization of the army also favors inviting the
assistance of an external agency in this task. No considerations of
false national pride should deter the Committee from seeking such
assistance.
As to the alternatives in paragraph 6 (ii), the Mid-West Delegation
fears that the necessary machinery for invoking multinational
assistance would be slow and cumbersome, whether the external agency
concerned is the U.N.O., the O.A.U., or the Commonwealth. In
addition, there is some danger that multinational assistance may lead
to other problems affecting Nigerian Unity and national security, and
may create and opening of undesirable political interference in
Nigeria's affairs. For these reasons, the Mid-West Delegation
suggests that the Committee of Military and Civilian Leaders should
seek assistance form only one country. Obvious practical
considerations would seem to favor a Commonwealth such as Canada or
Britain.
The reorganization suggested at paragraph 3 must take some time and
if any sizeable section of the Army or any Region were unfortunately
reluctant to associate itself fully with the reorganization, the
delay might be longer still.
The Northern Delegation has suggested that a subcommittee of the ad
Hoc Committee should draw up proposals for submission to the Supreme
Commander and Head of Military Government on the question of the
creation of new States, that the proposals should include a
suggestion for the appointment by the Supreme Commander of a Special
Commission to ascertain the wishes of the inhabitants of "the areas
concerned," and that the subsequent creation of new States (involving
the whole process of bringing new States, their Constitution and
Regional Governments into existence) should be accomplished before a
complete return to civilian rule. Clearly, such operation would take
some time.
If the Ad Hoc Committee agrees on new constitutional proposals, as
the Mid-West Delegation earnestly hopes it will, the proposals will
have to be embodied in a new constitution and submitted for the
people's approval in a referendum. This operation will also take
some time.
Therefore, in considering how soon the country might return to
civilian rule, account must be taken of the three major causes of
delay set out in paragraphs 9 to 11 and of the fact that they are of
such character that it is impossible at this stage to set a definite
date for the military authorities to hand over power to elected
civilian administrations throughout the country.
In the interim period, however, the Mid-West Delegation believes that
it is desirable that civilians should be associated with the military
in the administration of the country, as a first step towards a
return to civilian rule. In view of the decision to include
civilians in the Federal Executive Council and Regional Executive
Committees taken by the Supreme Military Council at its most recent
meeting, the Mid-West Delegation does not wish to submit proposals on
the manner of such association.
At a date to be agreed now, however, the Supreme Commander and the
Regional Military Governors should assign executive responsibility in
respect of ministries to the Civilian Members of the Federal
Executive Council and the Regional Executive Committees, as an
intermediate stage to a return to civilian rule.
Apart from the day-to-day functions of Government, the
responsibilities of the reconstituted Federal Executive Council
should include supervising and effecting arrangements for:
civilian co-operation with the Military in the reorganization of the
Army;
the creation of any new regions which may be agreed upon and bringing
new interim regional
administrations into being;
elections in all regions on a given date;
Federal elections;
bringing the new constitution into being; and
civilian co-operation with the Military in the formal transfer of
power to new elected civilian
administrations.
Consideration will of course have to be given to the question of the
stage at which normal political activities, which are at present
banned, may be resumed. On the one hand, enough time must be
afforded for the organization of political parties and for campaigns
leading to elections which will usher in new civilian administrations.
On the other hand, the obvious dangers of intense political
activities over a protracted period must be avoided. To meet both
needs, the Mid-West Delegation suggests that the ban on political
activities should be lifted three months before the military are due
to hand power over to elected civilian administrations.
Although it is suggested at paragraph 12 that it is impossible at
this stage to set a definite date for complete return to civilian
rule, there is an obvious advantage in declaring a target date.
Bearing in mind the problems set out at paragraphs 1 (i), (ii), (iii),
9, 10 and 11, it is suggested that a realistic date would probably
be 15th January, 1968, which may have public appeal as the second
anniversary of the original intervention by Army personnel in public
affairs.
There has been considerable disruption of life in Nigeria within the
last nine months. Any program for a return to civilian rule must
take account of this disruption and provide a means of solving the
problems which it has raised. To this end, the Mid-West Delegation
proposes;
that arrangements should be made for the rehabilitation of persons
forcibly displaced from
their normal places of abode and employment in consequence of the
vents of January, May, July and September, 1966.
that there should be a crash training program in respect of the
Northern Region to provide staff to fill those vacancies inside and
outside the Public Services which have been caused by the exodus of
persons from other regions.
It is obvious that such a massive program is at present beyond the
capacity of the country's resources, and that external assistance
would be necessary. In the view of the Mid-West Delegation, this is
an appropriate field in which to seek multinational assistance. It
is suggested that assistance should be sought from the U.N.O. and
from the Commonwealth through their respective Secretariats.

Compiled by NOWAMAGBE AUSTIN OMOIGUI, MD