Kano, Katsina, Jigawa Reject Restructuring, Devolution of Power

Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States have expressed support for a strong and united nation, even as they rejected the growing clamour for the restructuring of the country.

Kano and Katsina also rejected demands for the devolution of power. However, Jigawa went against the grain of its neighbours in the North-west zone by advocating the removal of education and agriculture from the Exclusive List to the Concurrent List in the constitution.

The states declared their position yesterday at a public hearing organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) on true federalism in Kano.

The governments were also unanimous on the balance of economic development and spread of social growth across the country.

But, the position of Kaduna State government was not known, as the governor neither attended the meeting, nor sent a representative. He also did not submit memoranda on behalf of the state.

The governors, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State and Aminu Bello Masari of Kastina State, affirmed the country’s unity in diversity.

They said true federalism should not be misconstrued for a weak central government, but rather a Federal Government that should be seen as a strong coordinating unit.

They canvassed the equitable distribution of common resources among the federating units.

The states also rejected the creation of additional states.

Lalong, who is the Chairman of the APC true federalism committee explained that devolution of power, fiscal federalism, local government autonomy and resource control were among the items on its agenda. A former governor of Enugu State, Sylvia Chime, represented him.