Northern Governors are standing by the constitutional provision of two terms of four years for the President and Governors, as opposed to the idea of a single term of either five, six or seven years.

The governors made the declaration after a meeting in Abuja on Thursday night. The Chairman of the Northern Nigerian Governors Forum, who is also the Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, read the communiqué after the meeting, which dragged into the early hours of this morning.

President Goodluck Jonathan and members of the Senate have been pushing for a single term for both the President and the Governors. While Jonathan wants a single term of seven years, the Senate is recommending five years.

Our correspondent gathered that the governors believed that the next President will come from their region and that it would be unhelpful for them to endorse a single term, believing that it could boomerang.
The Forum also objected to the creation of State Police, but resolved to prevail on the Federal Government to embark on Police Reform that will assist the States in control and management of Police affairs, and further emphasis on a sound philosophy for modern policing.”

On other issues relating to constitutional amendments, the governors:

• Agreed that each state be allowed to negotiate its own Minimum Wage and that there should not be a National Minimum Wage;

• Decided not to support the recognition of the six geo-political zones in the country and that the idea may only be recognised “for political considerations alone but not be enshrined in the Constitution;”

• Called for the retention of the immunity clause in the Constitution;

• Resolved that the Shore/Offshore dichotomy be reverted, and agreed to meet with the Speakers of State Houses of Assembly in their zones, as well as the members of the National Assembly to deliberate further on the proposed amendment.

The governors also constituted a committee to study the Petroleum Industry Bill and advise the Forum on it.