Constitution Review: It’s Time For State Police, Fiscal Federalism, Says Kaduna Gov

Kaduna state Governor Uba Sani, has called for bold and transformative amendments to Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, highlighting the need for state police, fiscal  federalism and  gender inclusion.

The governor made the proposal during the North-West zonal public hearing on the constitutional review held in Kaduna yesterday.

Governor Sani who was represented by his deputy, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, in his address to stakeholders comprising members of the National Assembly, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, youth and women leaders, described the constitutional review as a moment of national reckoning.

He urged participants to rise to the challenge of nation-building.

The governor identified six key areas that require urgent constitution reform, topmost among which is the creation of state police to tackle insecurity at the grassroots.

Recalling his efforts as a lawmaker, he said,  “As a senator in the 9th National Assembly, I personally sponsored several constitutional and legislative bills aimed at establishing State Police Force.’’

He, however, lamented that while the bills passed crucial stages in the senate, their final adoption faltered due to a lack of political consensus.

He reaffirmed that there was a renewed and urgent recognition that decentralised policing is not only desirable but inevitable because security cannot be national if it is not local.

The governor called for fiscal federalism and equitable resource control, criticising the current over-centralised structure.

“Our Constitution must cease to be a document of convenience for the powerful and become a charter of empowerment for the people,” he said.

He also advocated the recognition of traditional institutions due to their relevance in promoting peace and development.

On gender inclusion, Governor Sani called for constitutional guarantees to increase women’s participation in politics and governance, “because Nigeria cannot claim to be a democracy while half of its population remains underrepresented.’’

The public hearing was part of a nationwide consultation by the National Assembly’s Constitution Review Committee, aimed at collecting inputs  from Nigerians toward amending the 1999 Constitution to reflect current realities.

The deputy governors of Kano and  Jigawa States, including the Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly as well as the  Attorney General of Katsina State presented memoranda on behalf of their states.