Governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has called for a review of the constitution to empower states to control their own affairs.
Bello made the call during the public hearing held at the government house in Lokoja, Kogi state capital.
He also called for states to have control on minimum wage determination.
“Specifically, Kogi state requests that our constitution must devolve more powers to the states by amending the second schedule of part one and part two of the Constitution to allow states more input/control over some issues currently fenced off in the exclusive legislative list.
“Labour matters, to the extent that a state’s labour force, payroll and minimum wage must match its carrying capacity – these can no longer be imposed on states on the basis of labour agreements with the federal government.
“It is also imperative that a state which has complied with collective agreements like Kogi and three other states have complied with the revised CONMESS for health workers should be freed from the burden of solidarity strikes if organised labour decides to protest noncompliance by other states,” he said.
Bello also called for states to have full powers over taxation and the administration of criminal justice.
“This is the logical progression to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. Kogi state has since taken the lead in domesticating that Act but states must now be enabled to deploy greater innovation for enhancing the efficiency of justice delivery in the face of spiralling crime.
“Registration, regulation and taxation of business names and other forms of businesses which states may desire to enable within their territory — collection of stamp duties will grant states access to economic opportunities from which they are currently shut out. This is a necessity as all talks of states’ financial sustainability will require the development of a business environment that is unique to a state’s economic development needs.”
He said if states are empowered with greater control, Nigeria will be restructured and functional.
