Nigeria’s Governors Unite for Constitutional Reforms and Education Overhaul
In a notable show of solidarity, Nigeria’s 36 state governors have pledged to support the ongoing efforts for constitutional amendments, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with the National Assembly. This commitment was made during a meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) in Abuja on Wednesday evening, following a presentation by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu.
Kalu, who also chairs the House Committee on Constitutional Review, stressed the need for close cooperation between state leadership and the committee. He introduced the idea of a “one-stop shop” approach to synchronize state priorities with the constitutional reform process, which was met with strong approval from the governors.
“We have identified over 161 areas that require amendment in the constitution, and we will be sharing detailed breakdowns in future discussions,” Kalu told reporters. Among the proposed amendments are key issues like state policing, local government reforms, and fiscal federalism.
Alongside constitutional reform, the governors also expressed a shared interest in collaborating with the federal government on education sector improvements. Minister of Education, Tunde Alausa, pointed out the pressing challenges in the sector, including a high number of out-of-school children and the issue of learning poverty, especially in the North-East and North-West regions.
Key areas of focus during the discussions included:
Enhancing Federal-State Cooperation: Strengthening coordination to tackle educational challenges.
Promoting Girl-Child Education: Expanding educational opportunities for girls.
Vocational Training Integration: Incorporating vocational skills into the school curriculum.
Harnessing Technology: Using data and technology to improve education management systems.
The governors reaffirmed their determination to work alongside the federal government and international partners to address these issues, with the goal of achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), which aims for inclusive and equitable quality education for all.
This collective stance by Nigeria’s governors marks a pivotal moment for the country’s reform agenda. As Kalu aptly noted, “The governors are key players in this nation, and without the federating units,there is no Nigeria.”
