The 36 state governors, alongside the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the Committee on the Review of the Constitution, Benjamin Kalu, have expressed their commitment to strengthening the 1999 Constitution.
As part of its efforts to gather broader input for the ongoing constitutional amendment process, the House of Representatives’ Committee on Constitution Review announced plans on Tuesday to consult with several key stakeholders. These include the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), the Nigeria Guild of Editors, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, leaders of political parties, and various civil society organizations.
During a meeting between the NGF and Kalu’s Committee in Abuja on Thursday, Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, shared details of the discussions, which not only covered constitutional issues but also tackled pressing national matters.
Governor Sani revealed that the forum, led by Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, had underscored the need for data and technology to enhance education management systems during its meeting with the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa.
He said, “The Forum hosted Deputy Speaker Kalu, who briefed the governors on the progress of the constitutional amendment. The Deputy Speaker stressed the importance of collaboration between the NGF and the Committee, proposing a ‘one-stop shop’ framework to align state-level priorities with the constitutional review. Governors pledged support and emphasized their active participation in shaping constitutional amendments.”
The forum also engaged with the Minister of Education on strategies to improve Nigeria’s education system. The minister highlighted challenges such as high numbers of out-of-school children and learning poverty, especially in the North-East and North-West regions. Key proposals included fostering federal-state collaboration, improving girl-child education, integrating vocational training, and leveraging technology to enhance education management. Governors reaffirmed their commitment to working with the Federal Government and development partners to tackle these issues and achieve SDG4.
After the meeting, Deputy Speaker Kalu, along with Majority Leader Julius Ihonvbere and other lawmakers, shared that the Tax Bill was not discussed during the session. He stressed that the governors’ input was essential to moving the constitutional review forward.
“We had a constructive discussion, and the governors made valuable contributions in support of the review,” Kalu stated. “We also informed them of our plan to visit their states and regions to gather public opinion on the areas under review. So far, we have received 161 proposed amendments, and we will provide a detailed breakdown in future engagements.”
Kalu expressed optimism that the establishment of a liaison desk between the National Assembly and the NGF would facilitate easier collaboration between the Houses of Assembly and ensure progress in the constitutional review process.
When asked about the Tax Bill, Kalu confirmed that while the governors were receptive to the constitutional review, they had not focused on tax reforms. He noted that the bill was before Parliament and would undergo a thorough review to align it with public expectations.
