YENAGOA: Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has called for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s fiscal and security architecture as part of the ongoing constitutional review.
Represented by his deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA, at the public hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution in Yenagoa, the governor advocated for an upward review of the derivation formula, the creation of state police, and deeper reforms to promote equity and justice in the federation.
Describing the constitutional review exercise as a step towards building a more inclusive and just Nigeria, Oborevwori emphasized the urgent need for true fiscal federalism, devolution of powers, judicial reforms, and environmental justice for oil-producing communities.
He argued that the current derivation formula, which allocates 13% of resource revenues to oil-producing states, no longer reflects the economic and environmental realities of the Niger Delta region.
He urged lawmakers to implement an upward review that would ensure oil-bearing states receive a fairer share of national revenue, enabling sustainable development and environmental remediation in affected communities.
On the issue of security, Governor Oborevwori threw his weight behind the creation of state police, stating that centralized policing has proven inadequate in addressing local security challenges.
According to him, granting states the authority to manage their own police forces would enhance community-level intelligence and improve the overall security landscape.
The governor’s positions mirror resolutions reached at a recent Niger Delta town hall meeting in Port Harcourt, where stakeholders from across the region unanimously backed resource control and true fiscal federalism as non-negotiable pillars for Nigeria’s continued unity.
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At the meeting, leaders, civil society groups, and traditional rulers underscored the need for restructuring, asserting that the current federal arrangement disadvantages oil-producing states and fuels regional inequality.
Governor Oborevwori also highlighted the importance of judicial reforms, including the financial autonomy of state judiciaries, and advocated for stronger environmental protections to address the decades-long degradation suffered by oil-rich communities in the Delta.
The constitutional review hearing continues across geopolitical zones, as stakeholders push for amendments that reflect Nigeria’s federal character and the evolving demands of its people.
