The South-East region of Nigeria has called for a constitutional amendment to introduce a rotational presidency and ensure full autonomy for local governments.
This demand was made during the South-East Zonal Public Hearing on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, organized by the Nigerian Senate in Enugu.
Speaking at the event, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, represented by Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, emphasized the importance of rotational presidency across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. According to him, such a system would promote equity, national unity, and inclusive governance.
The state also proposed:
- Rotational governorship and legislative representation among senatorial zones and constituencies.
- Increased female representation, including:
- One additional Senate seat per state for women
- Two extra House of Representatives seats per state for women
- Three additional State Assembly seats per state for women
Governor Mbah further advocated for:
- Autonomous local government councils, free from caretaker committees imposed by state governors.
- Direct access to funds from the National Consolidated Account for local governments.
- Greater devolution of legislative and fiscal powers to states to foster genuine federalism and empower grassroots development.
In his contribution, Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, represented by Speaker Moses Odunwa, backed the push for an additional state in the South-East to bring parity with other regions. He also supported the idea of reserved political seats for women to ensure balanced representation.
The public hearing drew participation from government officials, traditional leaders, civil society organizations, and non-governmental groups across the region.
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