Northwest Governors’ Forum Pushes Vision For Constitutional Reform
By COLLINS YAKUBU-HAMMER
THE Northwest Governors’ Forum has reaffirmed its commitment to shaping the region’s future through constitutional reforms that promote governance, justice, and equity across Nigeria.
The Director-General of the Forum, Hajiya Maryam Yahaya, made this known at the Northwest Governors’ Forum Constitutional Review Consultative Meeting held in Abuja.
The meeting, themed “Aligning Regional Priorities for a People-Centred Constitution,” brought together key stakeholders, including state attorneys-general, commissioners for justice, and constitutional review committee chairpersons from across the Northwest.
Region Seeks People-Centred Governance
Yahaya said the forum was determined to produce a “Northwest Common Position on Constitutional Reform” that reflects the aspirations of the people.
“Today is not just another policy engagement; it is a gathering of minds committed to shaping the future of governance, justice, equity, and inclusion in our region and our country,” she stated.
She explained that discussions had been ongoing across state executive councils, houses of assembly, civil society groups, and traditional institutions — all contributing to the national constitutional review process.
“We are here to synthesize those voices and build a shared strategic position that captures the realities and needs of the Northwest region,” Yahaya added.
Calls for Equity, Stronger Local Governments
Also speaking, the Chairman, Board of Directors of the Northern Nigerian Development Company (NNDC), Alhaji Lamis Dikko, described the Northwest — along with the Northeast and North-Central — as a “pillar of Nigeria’s democratic evolution.”
He emphasized the need for fairness in the nation’s fiscal structure and advocated for the review of derivation and deductions before FAAC distributions.
“Local governments must be constitutionally clarified and empowered,” Dikko said.
“Their viability should be performance-based, tied to transparency and accountability, not political convenience.”
He also called for a coordinated security framework that enhances local participation while supporting national efforts through state-led initiatives backed by law and regional security funds.
Pushing for Democratic and Inclusive Reforms
Dikko noted that the North supports reforms that strengthen internal democracy, independent candidacies, and inclusive governance.
“The constitution must unlock the full potential of each region so that no part of the country is structurally disadvantaged,” he said.
According to him, the North seeks no special privilege beyond fairness and equal opportunity for all Nigerians, regardless of region or background.
He urged the governors to mobilize the Northern caucuses in the National Assembly to translate the reform ideas into legislative action.
Building Consensus for National Progress
The meeting concluded with a resolution to harmonize regional inputs into a comprehensive policy paper that would guide the Northwest’s submission to the National Assembly’s Constitutional Review Committee.
Stakeholders agreed that the process must be inclusive, transparent, and responsive to the people’s needs, with a focus on justice, security, and sustainable development.
