By Tracy Ohovwore
The Edo State Government has called for sweeping amendments to Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, including the establishment of state police, judicial independence, electoral reforms, and the protection of existing state boundaries.
Presenting the state’s position at the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review’s public hearing in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Samson Osagie, said that state police was critical to addressing the worsening security situation across the country.
“The centralised policing system is no longer adequate. State police will provide an additional layer of security and help address local challenges more effectively,” he said.
Osagie also called for constitutional safeguards to guarantee judicial independence, stressing that the judiciary must be free from political and financial interference to ensure justice and uphold democracy.
He stated that the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo remains committed to reforms that would improve governance and deepen democracy.
Other proposals submitted by the Edo State Government include electoral reforms to ensure credible elections, inclusive governance to promote fairness and equity, and fiscal federalism to enable states to control more of their resources.
The government, however, rejected any move to create new states from existing ones, particularly any proposal involving the excision of land from Edo State.
Osagie said that such attempts threatened the state’s historical identity and ancestral heritage.
“The preservation of Edo’s boundaries is non-negotiable,” he said.
Edo’s submission is expected to influence the next phase of the review process, as lawmakers prepare to amend sections of the constitution ahead of future general elections.
