From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Governors under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) have acknowledged their critical role in the ongoing constitutional amendment process and committed to providing the necessary feedback and input to facilitate a smoother amendment process.
This commitment was made at the NGF’s 11th meeting on 20 November 2024, following a briefing by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who also serves as Chairman of the Committee on the Review of the Constitution.
In a communiqué signed by the Forum Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and read by the Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, early Thursday, the Deputy Speaker highlighted the importance of collaboration between state leaders and the committee.
The communiqué noted that Kalu proposed a “one-stop shop” framework aimed at aligning state-level priorities with the constitutional review process. “The Deputy Speaker emphasized the importance of collaboration between the Forum and the Committee, proposing the establishment of a ‘one-stop shop’ framework to align state-level priorities with the constitutional review process. Governors pledged their support for the initiative and reaffirmed their commitment to actively engage in shaping amendments that strengthen Nigeria’s constitution.”
Speaking to journalists after the presentation, Kalu—accompanied by the Majority Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere; Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims; and Hon. Sada Soli, among others—explained that over 161 potential areas for constitutional amendment had been identified. These include critical issues such as state policing, local government reforms, and fiscal federalism.
Kalu expressed optimism about gathering public input through state and geopolitical zone visits, stating, “We want to ensure that this review process is inclusive and reflects the aspirations of all Nigerians.”
He assured the governors that the engagement would not be a one-time exercise but part of an ongoing dialogue aimed at fostering a robust constitutional framework for Nigeria.
“The governors are major stakeholders in this country, and without the federating units, there is no Nigeria. If you ignore them, the progress towards achieving this objective will be slowed. We consider it essential to engage with them, update them on our work plan, achievements so far, and future goals,” Kalu said.
“We had a robust discussion. The governors made valuable contributions and expressed support for the constitution review. We also informed them about our plans to visit their states and geopolitical zones to gather public opinion on the thematic areas of the constitution under review.
“We have received over 161 proposed amendments, and we will provide the breakdown in subsequent engagements. This is not a one-time interaction. From the outset, we want governors to have input, and we have requested that each state appoint a liaison officer to engage with the committee. This will streamline the process, ensuring that when the review reaches State Houses of Assembly, the two-thirds voting requirement is achieved more efficiently.”
The meeting also included a dialogue with the Minister of Education, Tunde Alausa, focusing on strategies to improve Nigeria’s education system. The Minister highlighted challenges such as the high number of out-of-school children and significant learning poverty, particularly in the North-East and North-West regions.
Key proposals from the discussions included strengthening federal-state collaboration, improving girl-child education, integrating vocational training into school curricula, and leveraging data and technology to enhance education management systems.
The governors reaffirmed their commitment to working with the Federal Government and development partners to address these challenges, aligning efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all.
The newly elected governors of Edo and Ondo States, Monday Okpebholo and Lucky Aiyedatiwa, attended their first NGF meeting following their recent electoral victories. The Abuja meeting provided a platform for the governors to engage with their counterparts on pressing national issues and governance strategies.