Constitution amendment should prioritise creation of state police — NGF

The 36 State Governors under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) have underscored the need to put the creation of state police on the front burner during the ongoing alteration of the 1999 Constitution initiated by the National Assembly.

This, according to the Governors became necessary with a view to “correct a fundamental flaw in the national security architecture.”

According to the work plan released by the Special Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution Review chaired by Hon. Benjamin Kalu, the lawmakers are expected to meet with the 36 State Governors, leaders of the 18 registered political parties, traditional rulers and leaders of faith-based organisations while carrying out the national assignment.

The resolution was contained in the communique issued at the end of the virtual meeting held on Wednesday which was chaired by Governor Abdul Rahman Abdul Rasaq of Kwara State.

Worried by the recent massacre of Military personnel in Delta State, the Governors commiserated with the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, over the communal clash between Okuama in the Ughelli South Local Government Area and Okolaba in the Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State which led to the death of many including 16 military personnel.

While condemning the heinous act, all the Governors observed a minute of silence for the souls of the departed.

During the meeting, the Forum also reviewed the ongoing negotiation of the proposed new minimum wage embarked on by the National Minimum Wage Committee (NMWC), with the Governors unanimously agreeing on a fair minimum wage.

They further urged the Committee to “consider the current realities, individual state peculiarities and consequential impact on the capacity of the government as well as private sector employers to pay.

“Members also emphasised the need for proposals to be data-driven and evidence-based.”

In the same vein, the governors deliberated on the “growing concern raised by the United States Embassy over illegal and fraudulent inter-country adoption of Nigerian children by US citizens including systemic fraud and corruption, child-buying, the imprisonment of pregnant women, and unreliable or non-existent documentation.”

In the bid to address the concerns, NGF members pledged to engage the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government in a bid to address the situation.

Also during the meeting, the Governors deliberated on the progress made by states in implementing various business-enabling reforms including those aimed at improving land administration, Public Private Partnership (PPP), investment promotion frameworks, business-enabling infrastructure and regulatory environment under the World Bank-supported State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) programme for result.

Hence, all the NGF members were implored to leverage available support within the program in implementing related reforms to stimulate further economic growth.

Also at the meeting, the Forum received an update from the NGF Senior Health Advisor, Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab on the Health Sector Renewal Compact, the next round of the Primary Health Care (PHC) Leadership Challenge and the UNICEF Child Nutrition Fund.

To this extent, all the Governors restated their commitment to deliver on requisite actions and reforms to achieve the objectives of the various initiatives.

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