At the South-East Zonal Public Hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution, regional leaders called for sweeping constitutional reforms, including rotational presidency and full autonomy for local governments.
The hearing, held on Friday in Enugu and organised by the Nigerian Senate, provided a platform for stakeholders to demand greater equity and inclusion in the country’s governance structure.
Delivering his remarks through the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah said rotational presidency among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones would promote fairness and national unity. He added that similar rotation principles should apply to governorship positions and legislative seats to ensure broader political representation.
To improve gender parity, Mbah proposed the allocation of one extra Senate seat and two additional House of Representatives seats per state for women. He also recommended three more seats for women in each State House of Assembly.
The governor further emphasized the need for true autonomy at the local government level, noting that the current practice of appointing caretaker committees stifles grassroots development. He urged the Senate to reinforce the constitutional guarantee for democratically elected councils with direct access to federal allocations.
Mbah also called for fiscal and legislative reforms that would shift more power and resources to the states, arguing that Nigeria’s overly centralised system has hindered subnational growth.
Echoing similar sentiments, Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, represented by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Moses Odunwa, called for the creation of an additional state in the South-East to balance representation across regions. He also backed the push for reserved political seats for women, urging all political parties to field female candidates for such positions.
The hearing was attended by state officials, traditional rulers, civil society groups, and non-governmental organizations, all united in their call for a more inclusive and decentralized governance framework.
