Paul Nkom Yashim

Implementation of the Northernization Policy (1954–1966) 

How the Policy Took Shape (1954–1958)

The Northernization Policy, announced in 1954 and fully enforced by 1958, was designed to give Northerners priority in government employment. Its central rule was unmistakably clear:

If a qualified Northerner is available, he must be given the job. If none is available, an expatriate should be hired rather than a Southerner.

This principle was driven by fears of Southern domination, the region’s late access to Western education, and the desire to achieve regional autonomy within the new federal system. By 1958, this policy had reshaped the region’s administrative identity.

Mass Dismissals and Administrative Purge

The earliest effect of the policy was a widespread removal of Southerners from Northern government service. Between 1954 and 1958:

• 2,148 Southerners were dismissed from the Northern civil service

• 600 Southern daily-paid workers lost their jobs

• Only 24 Southerners held senior positions by 1958

• By 1959, just one Southerner remained in the entire regional service

For many observers, this was the most sweeping administrative clean-up ever carried out in Nigeria before independence. It created immediate vacancies but also sparked resentment across regions.

Source : Asirimagazine /

Rapid Recruitment and Capacity Building for Northerners

Once the purge was completed, the regional government began aggressively preparing Northerners to take over the positions that had been vacated. This period saw intense investment in human capital:

• New teacher training colleges were opened across the region

• Northern students were sponsored to universities in Nigeria, the UK, Sudan, Pakistan, and India

• Technical and vocational schools received major funding

• The government established Ahmadu Bello University (ABU Zaria) to serve as a training ground for future civil servants

• Powerful economic institutions—NNDC, NIDB, NNIL, NRDB—were created to grow industry, commerce, and managerial skills

This strategy accelerated the emergence of a Northern educated workforce and strengthened the region’s administrative independence.

Political Influence and Administrative Favoritism

As the policy matured, politics and administration became closely intertwined. The ruling Northern People’s Congress (NPC) increasingly used civil service recruitment as an extension of party strategy.

• NPC loyalists received priority in job placements

• Some individuals were appointed without strong academic or professional qualifications

• Opposition supporters, especially those linked to NEPU, were excluded

• Civil service positions became tools for rewarding party loyalty

This blending of regionalism and political patronage intensified tensions, both within the North and between the regions. Kaduna, the administrative capital, became a hotspot of ideological rivalry.

Conclusion

The implementation of the Northernization Policy between 1954 and 1966 dramatically transformed Northern Nigeria’s public service. It succeeded in expanding Northern participation and strengthening regional identity. However, it deepened mistrust among regions and contributed to the growing political tensions that shaped Nigeria’s journey toward independence and the early years of the First Republic.

This article is published with permission from the author, Paul Nkom Yashim, and is adapted from his research thesis on the Northernization Policy (1958–1966).