Governors from the South-West region have renewed their call for the establishment of state police and the full implementation of true federalism, insisting that the current centralised system has failed to address the country’s worsening security and fiscal challenges.
The governors — Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo, Ademola Adeleke of Osun, and Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti — made the call on Friday at the South-West Centre B Public Hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review, held in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, who hosted the session, led the charge, declaring that decentralising the nation’s policing structure has become inevitable as insecurity escalates across the country.
He pointed to the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun, as a proven model of community-based security that deserves constitutional backing.
“The current centralised policing structure is no longer sustainable,” Aiyedatiwa warned. “Amotekun has shown effectiveness in addressing grassroots security concerns. Legalising state police will not only empower states but also bring security closer to the people.”
Aiyedatiwa also pushed for constitutional amendments that would usher in true federalism, stressing the need for federating units to gain greater autonomy over their political, cultural, and economic affairs.
He advocated for a fiscal structure where states retain control over their resources and remit an agreed percentage to the federal purse.
“In line with fiscal federalism, states should control their resources and remit about 40 percent to the centre,” he said.
“The current revenue allocation formula is skewed in favour of the federal government and needs urgent review in the interest of equity and justice.”
Supporting the call, Governor Adeleke described the constitutional review process as a critical opportunity to correct long-standing imbalances and restructure Nigeria into a more functional and fair federation.
Governor Oyebanji echoed similar sentiments, urging lawmakers to heed the cries of Nigerians and use the ongoing constitutional review to drive meaningful reform.
The public hearing attracted stakeholders across the region, including traditional rulers, civil society groups, legal experts, and youth representatives, many of whom backed the governors’ position and called for swift action.
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