By George Ozalla
The North-West Governors’ Forum has called for a fairer revenue sharing formula and the creation of state police amidst growing insecurity and economic challenges in the region. The forum, headed by Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda, made the call at a constitutional review consultative meeting in Abuja Monday.
Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, who represented Radda, stressed the need for constitutional amendments that reflect prevailing situations on ground. She spotlighted the region’s challenges, including rampant insecurity, youth unemployment, poor infrastructure, underinvestment in agriculture, drug abuse, and the weakening of traditional institutions.
The forum identified priority areas for constitutional reform, including greater fiscal federalism, stronger subnational autonomy, and restructuring Nigeria’s security architecture to accommodate state policing. She stressed that the region hosts millions of displaced people due to banditry and conflict, and a fairer revenue allocation formula is necessary to address the region’s needs.
The Director-General of the North-West Governors’ Forum, Maryam Musa, stated in her welcome remark that the meeting targets to synchronize voices from across the seven North-West states and build upon it a common strategic position on constitutional reform. The forum’s outcome will be a single draft document titled “The North-West Common Position on Constitutional Reform,” which will be submitted to the governors for review and finalization.
Participants at the session included government officials, legal experts, and civil society groups from the region. The meeting is part of efforts to influence Nigeria’s constitutional evolution by addressing governance structures, resource allocation, security, social justice, and the protection of fundamental human rights.
