State governments in Nigeria’s northwest have intensified calls for constitutional reforms, with Kaduna and Kano making strong demands for structural changes during the North West Zonal Public Hearing on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.
The event, held on Saturday, brought together stakeholders from Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states, including government officials, traditional leaders, and civil society representatives.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, represented by Deputy Governor Hadiza Balarabe, criticised Nigeria’s over-centralised federal system as unsustainable and development-hindering.
“Our current arrangement violates the principle of subsidiarity,” he stated, advocating for constitutional amendments to grant states greater autonomy. The governor specifically pushed for state control over natural resources and legislative authority on local matters.
He also reiterated his long-standing demand for state police, recalling how political opposition blocked his efforts during the 9th National Assembly. “Security cannot be truly national without local implementation. Kaduna stands ready to support constitutional changes enabling state policing,” he emphasised.
Meanwhile, the Kano government presented more radical proposals through Deputy Governor Aminu Gwarzo, who represented Governor Abba Yusuf. The state government formally requested the creation of a new state and 26 additional Local Government Areas (LGAs), which would expand its current 44 LGAs to 70.
“We fully support restructuring and join the national conversation for new state creation, provided it complies with constitutional requirements under Section 8,” Gwarzo declared.
The state also demanded full constitutional autonomy for local governments, proposing amendments to Sections 2(2), 7, and 162(5) to legally recognise LGAs as a distinct government tier with independent functionality.
These demands reflect growing regional discontent with Nigeria’s governance structure and add momentum to ongoing constitutional review efforts. The proposals will now be considered alongside other zonal recommendations before potential presentation to the National Assembly for legislative action.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
