From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has called for significant amendments to Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, emphasizing the need for state police, fiscal federalism, and gender inclusion in his proposals.
He made these remarks during the North-West zonal public hearing on constitutional review, held in Kaduna on Saturday, July 12, 2025, where he was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe.
Addressing stakeholders including members of the National Assembly, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organizations, youth and women leaders, Governor Sani described the constitutional review as a “moment of national reckoning.”
He urged participants to take on the challenge of nation-building.
“Our Constitution must cease to be a document of convenience for the powerful and become a charter of empowerment for the people,” he stated.
He added, “This hearing is more than a technical review; it is a deliberation about who we are as a people, what we value, and the kind of future we wish to secure for posterity.”
The Governor identified six key areas that require urgent constitutional reform, with the creation of state police being the foremost priority to address insecurity at the grassroots level. Reflecting on his tenure as a lawmaker, he noted that as a Senator in the 9th National Assembly, he sponsored several constitutional and legislative bills aimed at establishing a State Police Force.
However, he lamented that despite these bills progressing through critical stages in the Senate, their final adoption failed due to a lack of political consensus. He emphasized the urgent need for decentralized policing, asserting that security cannot be national if it is not local.
Governor Sani also advocated for fiscal federalism and equitable resource control, criticizing the current overly centralized structure.
“States must be empowered not only to legislate on local matters but also to control and directly benefit from the resources found within their jurisdictions,” he stated, adding that “fiscal federalism is not a concession; it is a constitutional imperative.”
Additionally, he called for the recognition of traditional institutions for their role in promoting peace and development. “Our traditional rulers are not mere cultural ornaments; they are guardians of community cohesion, peace brokers, and custodians of indigenous governance systems,” he explained.
On the issue of gender inclusion, Governor Sani urged for constitutional guarantees to increase women’s participation in politics and governance, emphasizing that “Nigeria cannot claim to be a democracy while half of its population remains underrepresented.”
He implored the delegates to legislate with integrity, advising them to “rise above partisan interests and sectional sentiments, and to speak the language of statesmanship.”
The public hearing was part of a nationwide consultation by the National Assembly’s Constitution Review Committee, aimed at gathering input from Nigerians for amending the 1999 Constitution to reflect current realities.
The Deputy Governors of Kano and Jigawa States, along with the Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly and the Attorney General of Katsina State, presented memoranda on behalf of their states.
