Constitution review: Resource control, state police, fiscal federalism, additional states top agenda
As the Senate begins review of NIGERIA’s consitution in the six geo-political zones in the country, issues such as resources control, creation of State police, fiscal federalism, roles of local government and creation of additional states top agenda at all the zones.
In Asaba, the people of South-South zone are demanding for amendment of the 1999 constitution, resource control, fiscal federalism, full autonomy, devolution of power, creation of state police and gender equality.
This indication was unveiled when the Senate committee, led by Sen. James Manager, hosted the people of Delta, Edo and Bayelsa states of the zone at a hearing on constitution amendment, on Wednesday in Asaba.
The Senate committee members are Senators James Manager and Peter Nwaobushi from Delta; Seriake Dickson, Clopas Moses and Degi-Eremielyo W.D from Bayelsa and Mathew Orohighide and Francis Alihiemeha from Edo.
The people of Niger Delta demanded that the constitution be amended to enable each of the federating states generate and manage their resources.
They demanded that royalty should be paid to the centre as a true Federal system of government.
On the devolution of power, they said that with the prevailing economic and security challenges, it was timely to review and amend the 1999 constitution to meet the present realities for states to have their own police.
They also said that their request and demand had been articulated, documented and submitted to the Senate committee to enable it effect the needed change.
In his remarks, before declaring the hearing open, Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa said, among the contentious issues of the proposal review, are fiscal federation, devolution of power, state police, and local government creation.
Okowa, represented by the Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Mr Sheriff Oborevwori, said that Delta government and its people are convinced that Nigeria should continue as a federation.
“After carefully considering all the salient attributes of a federal system as well as the historical antecedents relating to federalism as practiced in Nigeria, the Delta government and its people are convinced that Nigeria should continue as a federation but with a proper federal structure,” Okowa said.
The governor proposed fiscal federation for revenue accountability and discipline, state police to improve security, devolution of power and the review of the 13 per cent derivation formula to 50 per cent.
He charged the committee to ensure that the recommendations are considered to reflect the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.
The positions of the Edo and Bayelsa governments and various associations and groups are aligned to these demands.
The representatives of Bayelsa government demand full resource control, creation of four additional states in the region and amendment of the electoral laws.
In their submission, Edo representatives demanded, among others, the increase in women participation in politics and gender equality and balancing.
In their separate submissions, the Ijaw, Urhobo, Ndokwa and other ethnic extractions took turns to make their proposals.
Some of them asked for the creation of state, gender balancing and a constitution that would ensure equity, fairness and justice irrespective of tribe, language or colour.
In their submissions, the representative of the traditional rulers demanded that their roles be put back in the constitution, and one traditional ruler in every state be a member of senate.
On her part, Dr Joyce Ogweze, who led a group of Women under the aegis of United Nations Nigeria Women in politics, called for adequate representation of women in politics.
Ogweze said that women must be all inclusive, adding that the 1999 constitution as amended has more male representation then women.
According to her, the group has submitted a memoranda to address all the grey areas that put women under, hoping that the amendment will right the wrongs and ensure gender neutrality.
She demanded that the 35 per cent women representation in all elections in the country must be adhered to.
In Bauchi zone, Borno and Yobe States have rejected calls for the creation of additional states, local councils and state police in the country.
The Speaker, Borno State House of Assembly, Alhaji Abdulkareem Lawan, said the state was opposed to the creation states and state police.
“Borno State is already devastated for now. We don’t need additional states and local government councils, because some of the councils just bear names without people.
“So, there is no need for the creation of state and local governments out of the present Borno State,” he said.
Lawan stressed that Borno was also not in need of a state police, because it already had the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) which had been effective in enhancing security in the state.
He, however, advocated for gender equality and increased women participation and other vulnerable persons in governance.
In his submission, Mr Saleh Samanja, the Yobe state Attorney General, who corroborated earlier opinions, advocated the retention of the existing states and local councils’ structure.
“We recommend that the existing number of states and local governments in the country be maintained and strengthened.
“Taking into consideration that even the existing ones are not adequately funded, to execute viable developmental projects, not to even talk of creating additional ones,” he said.
Samanja said Yobe State strongly opposed the establishment of state police as canvassed in some quarters.
“The state police can be abused for political reasons and create more insecurity, rather, measures should be put in place to encourage Community Policing under strict supervision,” he said.
However, Alhaji Sabiu Baba, Secretary to the Bauchi State Government (SSG), said the State was clamouring for the creation of additional states and local councils.
He noted that some states with a much lower population and land mass than Bauchi, already had more local government councils.
Baba said the state was, therefore, strongly in support of the creation of a state and additional local governments out of the present Bauchi state
The SSG said the state was also in support of the establishment of state police, so as to reduce over-dependence of the state governors on federal law enforcement agencies.
He equally disclosed that the state was in support of gender equality and women participation in decision making and governance.
In Akure, Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, said that the Federal Government must shed the excess weight unduly appropriated over time on the sub-nationals so as to ensure that fairness, equity and justice are served.
According to him, the excessive weight of the Federal Government is the major cause of friction in the country, stressed that it is the reason for the politics of bitterness and why everyone wants the power at the centre.
Akeredolu added that the basic law of any country must not be reduced to frivolities reflecting preferred whimsies, adding that it must not be oppressive of the minorities.
He, therefore, charged the Senate to look into all the agitations of the peoples of the country with a view to improving the economic power of the average citizens.
“The new law must view, critically, the current misnomer which sees the Federal Government appropriating humongous amounts for moribund agencies whose duties overlap with those of the states.
“The fiscal policy of the country must be restructured to encourage ingenuity and uncommon resourcefulness. The Federal Government should only coordinate and receive royalties. The current system is not sustainable. All of us are beginning to appreciate this fact,” he stressed.
The Governor urged the leaders galvanising the review to cast aside partisanship which often serves the purpose of parochialism and selfish considerations.
He said, “This is the time for candour, that rare opportunity which gives vent to processed nuggets of introspection. This is the hour to accept that fundamental errors of judgement have been made and there is the need to correct same.
“This is the moment when brothers and sisters must look at themselves in the eyes, chastise in love and be ready to embrace, warmly, afterwards.
“The stage must not be set for an unending and needless blame game and acrimony. This is definitely not a contest in sophistry where orators say so much but, in the end, say nothing.
“Providence has ensured our presence on the World Map as Nigerians, a badge which evokes a mixed feeling of approbation and warmth, on one hand, and a general sense of revulsion for attitudes symptomatic of the current crisis of confidence in the country.
“Our ability to deliberate, dispassionately, on the issues which, ultimately, define us as a nation of peoples bound in the same destiny, will be far reaching in our quest for abiding solutions to the perennial crises.”
In his submission at the North central zone, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, said the ongoing constitutional review in the six geo- political zones is critical to the development of the country.
Omo-Agege, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on constitutional review, was represented by Sen. Adamu Abdullahi (APC – Nassarawa), chairman of the Public hearing for the North Central States which comprises Nassarawa, Benue and Plateau States
“The constitutional review represents a critical phase in our development and advancement as a nation.
“So far, we have had over two decades of constitutional rule under the 1999 constitution. This is an important feat and we commend ourselves as a country even if we are not where we aspire to be,” he stated.
He said though as a nation, Nigeria is going through series of developmental challenges, the constitutional review was one of the ways to highlight and bring to fore such issues.
“There are developmental challenges in our country, many argue that these challenges are due to several factors.
“These factors include history, culture, natural endowments and politics. We have a compelling duty to carefully address every challenge to this nation.
“There is no better way to do it than through this constitutional amendment exercise,” he stated.
The chairman, therefore, called on his colleagues in the Senate and House of Representatives to commit to the task of ensuring them delivery of a constitution that would address the challenges faced by the citizens.
Also, the Conference of Auditors-General for Local Governments in their submission appealed to the Constitiution Review Committee to provide for a legal framework that would strengthen independence of its office.
The Auditor General for Local Government in Lagos State, Mrs Adesumbo Abolarin, made the recommendation at the Senate Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitiution in Lagos on Wednesday.
Abolarin said that this was necessary in order to ensure optimal performance by the Auditors-General for local government in Nigeria.
She noted that the independence was to also position them to provide services and ensure transparency, accountability and value for money in local government operations.
“We earnestly request that the Office of the Auditor General for LocalGovernment should be explicitly provided for in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The provision should define the mode of appointments, powers, duties of the office to strengthen the office.
“This is to adequately position the office for onerous tasks of auditing local government account to ensure accountability and transparency in the use of public funds,” Abolarin said/
She noted that given the critical roles the auditor-general for local government played, especially in the scrutiny of their expenditures, it was important to give it a legal framework for its operations.
Abolarin said this would enable the office to discharge its functions in the most effective, efficient and seemless manner.
According to her, a legal framework will position the office to effectively support accountability, transparency and the fight against corruption in the country.
She said the fight could only be reenergised and sustained with the existence of a three fold audit independence.
Abolarin said this would give the legal, administrative and financial autonomy to the office of the auditor general for local government in the country.
