Constitution Review: South-West Governors Meet Lawmakers

Six governors of the South-West states met in Abuja on Tuesday with members of the House of Representatives and senators from the zone. 

The meeting was held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. Governors in attendance were Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), with Ekiti State governor and chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi and his Ondo State counterpart, who incidentally is the chairman of Southern Governors’ Forum and South-West Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Akeredolu, presided. 

The meeting was held behind closed door. 

‌Speaking with newsmen at the end of the meeting which lasted over two hours, the governors and federal lawmakers jointly resolved to present a common position as regards the amendment to the 1999 Constitution. 

Akeredolu, who read the communique, told newsmen that the meeting resolved to set up a committee made up of senators led by the Senate caucus chairman and House of Representatives caucus chairman, with attorneys-general of the SouthWest states. 

The committee is to harmonise the position of the governors and the lawmakers, so as to present it when necessary before the two chambers of the National Assembly. Earlier before the meeting, Governor Akeredolu had disclosed that issues set for discussions included gender equality, federal structure in governance and fiscal decentralisation, state police, among others.