The Northwest Governors Forum has declared its commitment to advancing a people-focused constitutional reform that prioritises governance, justice, and equity across the region and Nigeria as a whole.
Speaking at the Northwest Constitutional Review Consultative Meeting in Abuja, the Director-General of the Forum, Maryam Yahaya, described the gathering as a strategic step toward harmonising regional priorities. Themed “Aligning Regional Priorities for a People-Centred Constitution,” the meeting brought together government officials, legal experts, civil society leaders, and traditional institutions.
“This is not just another policy engagement. It is a platform to synthesize the views from across our states and articulate a common position that reflects the realities and aspirations of the Northwest,” Yahaya stated. She added that governors from the region have mandated the forum to deliver a unified document—”The Northwest Common Position on Constitutional Reform”—that captures the collective voice of the people.
Alhaji Lamis Dikko, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Northern Nigerian Development Company, also underscored the North’s strategic role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution. He advocated for constitutionally clarified and empowered local governments, insisting that viability must be tied to performance, transparency, and accountability.
Dikko also called for a fair review of revenue derivation mechanisms before allocation from the Federation Account, and pushed for a coordinated security framework led by state initiatives and backed by law and regional funding.
“The North seeks no favour beyond fairness, and no privilege above parity. Our goal is a constitution that enables all regions to flourish equally, without structural disadvantages,” Dikko said.
He urged Northern governors to mobilise their caucuses in the National Assembly to translate regional aspirations into legislative outcomes.
The meeting drew participation from commissioners for justice, attorneys general, and chairpersons of constitutional review committees from across the Northwest, signalling a united regional effort toward reforming the nation’s constitutional framework.
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