The All Progressives Congress National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has urged the Nigerian government to assign specific constitutional duties to deputy governors.
He said this would reduce conflicts between governors and their deputies and enhance good governance.
Ganduje made this call at the annual conference of the Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria in Abuja.
The theme of the conference was: “Partnering in the shared vision for good governance and sustainable development”.
He was represented by Mr. Emma Eneukwu, the APC Deputy National Chairman, South.
He praised the former deputy governors for forming a forum and advocating for their constitutional rights.
He said: “I am happy that you the deputy governors, have decided to come together and form yourself into a forum and embark on this advocacy. As you create awareness, as you meet people and talk to leaders of our country, there is need to constitutionally give roles to the deputy governors.”
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, also appealed to governors to delegate relevant and key roles to their deputies to ensure their active involvement in governance and promote unity in the nation.
Former Attorney General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi, emphasized the importance of adhering to the existing Nigerian Constitution and the need for responsible leadership.
He said: “Even if it is a broken-down vehicle, it is the vehicle. It is a good constitution; there is nothing wrong with it. However good a constitution is, it is not a self-executing document; it doesn’t enforce itself. It requires good people to enforce it.”
The conference aimed to provide workable solutions and improve understanding to eliminate tensions between governors and their deputies. The forum is also working on a book that documents the experiences of former deputy governors in office. The book will serve as a reference material for the public to understand the challenges faced by deputy governors and strategies for mitigating these challenges.
