The governors of Nigeria's 36 states are highly influential figures, some of them controlling budgets larger than those of neighboring countries, and are key players in party conventions at which presidential candidates are chosen.
"We now agree to meet with the leadership of the National Assembly to pass a resolution recognizing the vice president as the acting president," Bukola Saraki, chairman of the Governors' Forum, told reporters after a meeting with Jonathan.
"This action we believe is a way to move the nation forward before the president arrives. This we intend to do next week so that the resolution from the National Assembly will also come out next week," he said.
President Umaru Yar'Adua has been in hospital in Saudi Arabia for more than two months and his failure to formally hand over to Jonathan has brought the country to the brink of a constitutional crisis. Investment decisions in sub-Saharan Africa's second-biggest economy have been put on hold, militants in the oil-producing Niger Delta have threatened to re-launch attacks on the oil and gas industry, and state business has slowed with political minds focused on the succession rather than policy.
Rumors have been rife of Yar'Adua's imminent return. He has been receiving treatment for a heart condition and has not been seen in public since he left Nov. 23.
The Senate, former heads of state and lawmakers, the Nigerian Bar Association and opposition have all called for Jonathan to take over as acting president.
The Cabinet, made up of Yar'Adua's appointees, has twice passed resolutions saying there is no reason for him to hand over but splits have started to emerge.
Information Minister Dora Akunyili said Thursday in a memo seen by Reuters that the ailing leader's prolonged absence was damaging Nigeria's image and threatening its economy.
One of Yar'Adua's aides said on Thursday the president would write to the Senate soon in response to the handover calls.
