The Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu is reportedly under pressure to halt statutory allocations to Zamfara and Benue States until their Houses of Assembly are fully functional and constitutionally constituted.
The pressure is said to be facilitated by the Coalition for Democratic Governance in Africa (CDGA).
In a statement signed by its convener, Dr. Paul Barka, the group warned that allowing governors to operate without legislative oversight undermines democracy and encourages executive impunity.
Citing recent federal action against Osun State over undemocratic local government practices, the CDGA urged the same standard be applied to Benue and Zamfara, where it said legislative processes have either been suspended or reduced to rubber-stamp formalities. T
he group described the situation in both states as a “dangerous precedent” and insisted that continued federal funding under such conditions amounts to endorsing unconstitutional governance.
“Governors acting without legislative checks are effectively ruling by fiat — a clear violation of the Constitution,” Barka said.
CDGA called for urgent intervention by the National Assembly, Nigerian Bar Association, and Nigeria Governors’ Forum, warning that failure to act could see both states slide into “full-blown dictatorship.”
The group concluded by stressing that the call is not to punish citizens but to protect them from unaccountable leadership, and urged civil society and media to join the push for democratic restoration in both states.
