Kehinde Fajobi
The 36 state governors and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution through a collaborative review process.
Following a meeting in Abuja on Thursday, Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, briefed journalists on the discussions held between the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), led by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and Kalu’s Committee on Constitution Review.
Sani revealed that the Deputy Speaker emphasised the importance of aligning state-level priorities with constitutional amendments.
“The Deputy Speaker emphasised 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 strengthened Nigeria’s constitution,” Sani said.
The meeting also addressed pressing issues in the education sector.
The governors discussed strategies with the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, to tackle challenges such as out-of-school children and learning poverty, particularly in the North-East and North-West regions.
“Key proposals discussed include strengthening collaboration between federal and state governments, improving the quality of girl-child education, integrating vocational training, and leveraging data and technology to enhance education management systems,” Sani added.
Deputy Speaker Kalu, accompanied by key lawmakers, praised the governors’ contributions to the constitutional review process.
“We have had a robust discussion, and I must say the governors made valuable contributions and are in support of the constitutional review,” Kalu said.
He noted that the committee had identified 161 areas for potential amendment and would visit states and geopolitical zones to gather public input.
He expressed optimism about the cooperation between the National Assembly and the NGF.
“With an established liaison desk between the National Assembly and the NGF, it will be easier for the Houses of Assembly to fulfill their responsibilities regarding the constitutional provisions and their role in voting on them,” Kalu stated.
When asked about the Tax Bill, Kalu clarified that the issue was not a focal point of the meeting.
“They were not particularly focused on tax reform, and they only informed us that it is before Parliament, which will critically review it and align it with the wishes of the people we represent,” he said.
The governors and lawmakers agreed to deepen engagement with key stakeholders, including political parties, civil society organisations, and state legislatures, as part of the broader effort to reform the nation’s constitution.