The Conference of Speakers of South-West States has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening legislative cooperation, deepening democratic governance and advancing regional development across the geopolitical zone.
This formed part of the resolutions contained in a communiqué jointly signed by the National Chairman of the Conference and Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin; Chairman of the South-West Conference of Speakers and Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye; Speaker of Ogun State, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Olusegun Elemide; and the Speaker of Osun State, Rt. Hon. Olumide Adewole Egbedun, at the end of their meeting in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Presenting the communiqué, Rt. Hon. Aribasoye commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for promoting national unity and development. He also lauded the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for what he described as visionary leadership and the ongoing infrastructural transformation across the Gateway State.
The Speakers further applauded South-West governors for their continued efforts in driving economic growth and regional progress.
During the meeting, the Speakers deliberated on key national issues, including constitutional amendments, governance reforms and regional development initiatives. They adopted a common position on critical matters such as electoral reforms, inclusive governance, devolution of powers, state policing and security, fiscal reforms, citizenship and indigeneship, as well as strengthening local government administration.
The Conference also emphasized the need to review the Harmonized Standing Orders of all South-West legislatures to promote uniformity and efficiency in lawmaking. It announced plans to convene a South-West Legislative Summit in Oyo State in the first quarter of 2026, aimed at enhancing peer learning and strategic planning among the Houses of Assembly.
Recognizing security as a priority for regional stability, the Speakers commended the operational strides of the South-West Security Network, Amotekun. They proposed the establishment of Post-Legislative Scrutiny Units across state assemblies to evaluate the implementation of critical laws such as the Anti-Open Grazing Law and the Amotekun Law, ensuring they remain effective and responsive to evolving realities.
The Conference also urged South-West governors to work closely with the National Boundary Commission to resolve recurring boundary disputes among states, stressing that such proactive engagement would promote peace and unity in the region.
In addition, the Speakers called for increased youth participation in governance and urged all levels of government to create more meaningful opportunities for young people within the democratic framework.
On agriculture, the Conference advocated improved budgetary allocation across South-West states to strengthen food security, promote healthy living and support sustainable livelihoods.
The Speakers, accompanied by their Majority Leaders, later inspected the Gateway International Airport in Iperu, expressing satisfaction with the pace and quality of work on the project.
