..as Ondo hosts Centre-B Public Hearing of Constituency Review

Governors from Nigeria’s South-West region have called for constitutional recognition of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) and the establishment of state and community policing systems to strengthen grassroots governance and internal security.

The call was made during the South-West Centre B Public Hearing organized by the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), held on Friday, July 18, 2025, at the International Culture and Events Centre (The Dome), Akure, Ondo State.

In his opening remarks, the host, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, welcomed stakeholders from Ekiti, Osun, and other parts of the South-West, emphasizing that constitutional reforms must reflect the people’s realities and aspirations. He advocated the institutionalization of true federalism, a restructured revenue-sharing formula, and a more inclusive governance framework.

Governor Aiyedatiwa commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for championing democratic reforms and praised the Constitution Review Committee, led by Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, for bringing the exercise closer to the grassroots.

Describing the review process as a “timely and laudable endeavour,” the governor highlighted areas where Ondo State seeks urgent constitutional amendments: resource control, fiscal federalism, state policing, and formal recognition of LCDAs as full-fledged local governments.

“Ondo State supports the South-West’s push for a federation that mirrors our political, economic, and cultural realities,” he stated. “States should control their natural resources and remit about 40% to the federal government. The current allocation structure favours the centre disproportionately, and this must be corrected.”

On security, Aiyedatiwa argued that a centralized police force is no longer adequate to manage Nigeria’s complex security landscape. He cited the Amotekun Corps as a successful example of community-based policing and called for state-level police formations with full constitutional support.

“The central police system is overstretched and underfunded. States, being closer to the people, are better positioned to identify and respond to local security threats,” he said.

He also proposed removing the control of mineral resources from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent or Residual List, enabling states to explore and manage their mineral deposits more efficiently.

“Ondo State is endowed with resources such as bitumen, limestone, granite, kaolin, and marble. However, bureaucratic delays and poor federal oversight have hindered development and encouraged illegal mining. This must change,” he added.

The governor also demanded the constitutional recognition of the 33 LCDAs created in Ondo State, calling for their inclusion in the First Schedule of the Constitution, similar to the case of Lagos State.

While reiterating that Ondo State supports the creation of new states, Aiyedatiwa strongly opposed any proposal that would alter the state’s current boundaries or cede its territory to form a new entity.

He reaffirmed the state’s commitment to working with the National Assembly and relevant stakeholders to deliver a constitution that ensures equity, inclusion, and sustainable development.

Also speaking at the hearing, Ekiti State Governor Abiodun Oyebanji, represented by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata, advocated gender equality in political representation, constitutional recognition for traditional rulers, and stricter control over the movement of herders and livestock nationwide.

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, represented by Deputy Governor Kola Adewusi, called for measures to reduce the high cost of governance and political campaigns, warning that excessive campaign spending could fuel electoral malpractice and undermine democracy.

Representatives from labour unions, professional associations, religious and traditional institutions, civil society groups, and women’s organisations from the three states presented diverse memoranda aimed at correcting structural imbalances and strengthening democratic governance.

Speaking on behalf of traditional rulers, the Olowo of Owo and Chairman of the Ondo State Council of Obas, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, demanded constitutional recognition of monarchs and their inclusion in policymaking processes, noting their strategic role at the grassroots.

The Chairperson of the Nigerian League of Women Voters, Mrs. Titilayo Owolabi, submitted a petition backed by 33,000 signatures, advocating for increased women’s participation in governance and leadership positions.