The Northwest Governors’ Forum, chaired by Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has commenced a crucial technical session on Nigeria’s constitution review process, calling for meaningful reforms to address regional challenges and strengthen democratic governance.
Speaking at the opening ceremony held at Abuja Continental Hotel on Monday, August 4, 2025, the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, who represented Governor Radda as the Forum Chairman, emphasized the urgent need for constitutional amendments that reflect contemporary realities.
“This process is both a privilege and a duty, requiring us to engage with open minds, constructive dialogue, and a shared commitment to the common good,” Dr. Balarabe stated while delivering the keynote address.
Dr. Balarabe highlighted critical challenges confronting the region, stating: “As a region, we are acutely aware of the shared burdens that confront us; rampant insecurity, youth unemployment, poor infrastructure, underinvestment in agriculture, drug abuse, and the weakening of traditional institutions. These are not problems confined to one state. They are regional in scope and demand regional solutions.”
The Forum identified several priority areas for constitutional reform, including greater fiscal federalism, stronger subnational autonomy, and restructuring of Nigeria’s security architecture to allow state policing.
“The constitutional review process offers us a rare opportunity to push for a governance framework that better serves our people. It offers us the platform to demand for greater fiscal federalism, stronger subnational autonomy, and the restructuring of our security architecture to allow for state policing, an essential step in addressing the security vacuum across our communities,” she emphasized.
The Deputy Governor also called for a fairer revenue allocation formula, noting the region’s burden in hosting millions of displaced persons affected by banditry, terrorism, and farmer-herder conflicts.
“We must also jointly advocate for a fairer revenue allocation formula that reflects the developmental needs and population realities of our region. Our states are hosts to millions of displaced persons, victims of banditry, terrorism, and farmer-herder conflicts. We cannot ignore the human and economic costs of these realities,” Dr. Balarabe declared.
“Let this meeting mark a turning point in how we approach our collective advocacy, no longer as isolated states, but as a bloc committed to a vision of peace, development, and dignity for all citizens of the Northwest, and indeed, for all Nigerians,” she stated.
The technical session aims to influence Nigeria’s constitutional evolution by addressing governance structures, resource allocation, security, social justice, and protection of fundamental human rights.
Earlier, Maryam Musa Yahaya, Director General of the Northwest Governors’ Forum, emphasized the session’s significance as a unifying platform for regional constitutional advocacy.
She explained extensive consultations that preceded the technical session, noting: “Across the Northwest states, conversations have been ongoing; from state executive councils to houses of assembly, civil society forums, and traditional institutions; all aimed at contributing to Nigeria’s constitutional review process. We are here today to synthesize those voices, to rigorously interrogate what unites us, and to build a shared, strategic position.”
The Director General explained the session’s methodology, stating that each participating group would present resolutions to be consolidated into a single draft document titled “the Northwest Common Position on Constitutional Reform.”
“This harmonized technical document will be submitted to our governors, who will review and declare the final Northwest position at a subsequent session,” Yahaya announced.
She commended the resource persons and participants for their dedication to the process, describing their leadership as instrumental in reaching this critical milestone.
Yahaya, however, concluded by emphasizing the weight of responsibility placed on participants: “Our governors have entrusted us with the responsibility of developing the ‘Northwest Common Position on Constitutional Reform.’ It is now our duty and responsibility, to deliver a document that reflects both the wisdom of our region and the urgency of our time.”
Distinguished participants at the technical session included the Chairman of the NNDC, Alhaji Lamis Shehu Dikko; resource persons Professor Muhammad Tabiu, SAN, of Bayero University Kano Faculty of Law, and Professor Mohammed Taufiq Ladan, immediate past Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies; Honourable Commissioners for Justice and Attorneys General from Northwest states; and Chairpersons of Constitutional Review Committees across the region.
The Northwest Governors’ Forum comprises Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, and Zamfara states.
Press Released Signed By Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Katsina State
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