From the stables of the ongoing #Confab. Day 41. Conference rejected an amendment that the FCT should be delineated into two senatorial districts -- Conference rejected an amendment that the president should set up a Commission to examine the creation of local government areas across the nation inn other to address the imbalance. -- Delegates resolved that the vehicles in the entourage of public officers be reduce by 80% -- Conference resolved that Referendum be entrenched in the Constitution. -- Conference agreed that each zone should have nine states bringing the new states to 18 altogether. -- Conference rejected an amendment that the total number of states in the federation should not be more than 55; that the constitution be amended to make conditions for the creation of states less stringent. -- Conference agreed that FG should set up a Commission to address the plight of the FCT indigenes -- Conference rejected an amendment that the French system of president and Prime Minister be adopted in Nigeria -- Conference agreed that states should have their own constitutions. -- Conference rejected the amendment that the country should adopt a parliamentary system of government. -- Conference rejected an amendment calling for the re-organization of the armed forces along the line geo-political zones -- Conference rejected an amendment that the six geo-political zones should be constitutionalized -- Conference rejected an amendment that the name of Adamawa State should be changed to Gongola State -- Conference rejected an amendment that the geo-political zones should control their resource 100% and agree percentage be remitted to the Federal Government -- Mr. Akinyemi congratulated the members of the Committee for delivering a good job. -- Gabriel Okoye representing Diaspora moved the ,motion for the adoption of the report of the Committee. It was seconded Tinuke Marcarthy from Kwara State -- Conference adjourned. Josephine Anenih moved the motion for the adjournment of the proceedings till Monday. Motion seconded by Wale Okunniyi from Ogun State. 14.21 Conference resolved that the tenure of local government at three years. -- Conference rejected an amendment that the democratically local government council shall be a tier of government in Nigeria. -- Conference rejected a single term of six years be adopted to remove abuse by some incumbents. -- Conference rejected an amendment that Nigeria should revert to the original flag designed by Michael Akinwunmi. -- Conference rejected an amendment that the name Nigeria be changed to AIREGIN to be known as Federal Republic of Airegin. -- Conference resolved that Nigeria should revert to old National Anthem which is a more credible symbol of unity peace and prosperity. Delegates stood up to sing the old National Anthem. -- Conference resolved that elections should held not earlier than 90 days or not later 30 to the expiration of the clearly defined tenure of the Local Government councils. -- Conference agreed that in the spirit of reconciliation equity and justice, there shall be created an additional state for the South East zone -- On the basis of parity between the geo-political zones to ensure equality and justice, states should be created. Conference therefore agreed to create 18 new states namely, Apa from Niger State, kainji from Kebbi, Katagum from Bauchi, Savannah from Borno, Amana from Adamawa, Gurara from Kaduna, Ghari from Kano, Etiti from South East, Aba from Abia, Adada from Enugu, Njaba from Anambra and Imo, Anioma fror Delta state, Ogoja from Cross River State, IJebu from Ogun State and New Oyo State from the present Oyo State -- Any new states should be economically viability or potentially viable. should have human and natural and material resources -- Mr. Akinyemi said the recommendation was not necessary since the Conference had voted that the president and the vice president should run on the same ticket -- Conference agreed that in the event of death, incapacitation, impeachment or resignation of the president, the vice president shall act as president for a period of 90 days within which an election to the office of the president shall be held. Presentation of the annual budget to the Legislature should be the responsibility of the Minister of Finance. Also based on the information on provided by Remi Kuku, the person replacing the exited president should be from the same zone. -- Conference agreed that that any new state should have minimum population of one million persons -- Conference rejected an amendment that said the National Assembly by resolution passed by a simple majority or membership approves of the merger and the merged states shall exist as a region; have a regional premier who shall exercise executive powers throughout and have its regional hierarchy of courts. Conference resolve that a Referendum is conducted in each of the state proposing to merge with 75% of the eligible voters in each of those states approving the merger. -- Conference agreed that there should principle of zoning and rotation or of elective offices at the Federal and State levels on the basis of excellence , equity, gender justice and fairness -- Conference rejected an amendment calling on the president exercise full responsibility and select the minister not more than 18 from the six geo-political zones. -- Conference agreed that the president shall run on the same ticket with the vice president in an election -- There was a mild disagreement over whether a decision had been previously taken on the status of local government. -- The Committee recommended that functions of the Local Governments as contained in Schedule 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) shall be transferred to the states subject to the power of the State Houses of Assembly to add or reduce the said functions to the Local Government. An amendment that - provided that a new Revenue Allocation formula between the Federal and State Governments shall not take into consideration allocations previously made to all Local Governments when they were a tier of government. 13.03 Conference begins voting on the recommendations and amendments. The session is being moderated by the Deputy Chairman of the Conference, Bolaji Akinyemi -- Conference rejected a recommendation that Nigeria should operate unicameral legislature. -- That the membership distribution of the Legislature should be -- Conference agreed that there shall be quarterly question time for the President and question time for ministers at the legislature to enhance accountability. -- Conference agreed that the office of the Chairman of LG shall rotate within the local government area. -- Conference resolved that the office of the governor should rotate among the three senatorial zones in that state. -- Conference voted in support of rotation of the office of president between the North and South and among the zones. The Committee has recommended that the Electoral Act and the Constitution of Political Parties should provide Principle of zoning rotation of elective offices at the Federal and State levels on the basis of equity, justice and fairness -- Conference accepted a recommendation calling for the scrapping of the Joint State/Local Government Account and State Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission be created. -- Conference agreed that states that wish to create or reduce the number of existing local government areas which shall be under the jurisdiction of the state. -- Conference rejected an amendment saying minister so appointed shall hold office as long as they enjoy the confidence of majority of members of legislature. 12.30 Conference delegates are back to the chamber and deliberations continues. 12.24 CONFAB adjourns for some minutes of break. When they resume, it is expected that they go into amendment of the recommendations on the committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government. 12.21 Gani Adams from the South West said there should be constitution for every state because it will solve a lot of problem. He said each section knows what they want. He said each state should determine what they pay their governors. In the conference held in Uyo, Asaba and other places, it was agreed that the South east should be given a state. However, he said all other demands for states should be considered. he supported the Unicameral legislature because it will reduce the cost of running two chambers. He said he will support parliamentary but if it does not sail through he will support modified presidential system. He said the issue of geo-political zones would solve all the problems of the nation. -- Chidinma Uwajumogu said the South East is a viable zone and so if a state is created, it will be viable. She said tenure of the LG administration should be incorporated into the constitution. -- Obayori: He said it was not parliamentary system that led to the fall of the Third Republic but usurpation of power by the military. He supported the creation of state. He however said tow states should also be created in all the zones. He said the conditions for creation of states should be made less stringent. -- Magaji Dambatta from Kano said he used the expression so called South East zone just as he can used the word for the North West zone or any other because there is nowhere in the constitution is any of the zones mentioned. He said he was referring to the selectivity of the recommendation of the Committee and said that every place should be treated equally. He is nationalist but refused to apologise. However, delegates kept demanding that he should do so. He said by his disposition and status he did not mean but that if anyone feels otherwise he apologized. -- Ike Nwachukwu from the South East frowned at the use of word so-called South East by Magaji Dambatta and that it suggested that they are not worthy of their name. He said he waited for Mr. Dambatta to apologise. He said though he is Ibo he fought to bring back the Igbo race back to Nigeria. I have a right to Nigeria and he has a right to Nigeria,he said. We will not accept anybody denigrate anybody. He demanded that Dambatta should stand up and apologise. -- Ghali Umar NaAbba, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives said he supported the creation of state in the South East and that he wished that after the creation the people of the zone would call us to wash it. He said every creature is of God and that we should accommodate each other. I urge us I this conference to continue to cooperate with one another so that we produce result The kind of language that I have been hearing from some delegate does not encourage compromise. He frowned at the way people are trading words. He urged the Conference is asking for permission to read a compromise position he wrote down but the Chairman disallowed him to do so saying this is not the time of debate. 11.32 Dr. Silas Eneyo said he is very sad about what is going on in the conference. He said the reason for the conference was to restructure the country. He said as far as he is concerned the report of the Committee is the best. He said some sections of the Constitution on local government are contradictory. He therefore said the list of LG should be removed from the Constitution. He said the report tried to solve the problem of unitary government. He said the late Sardauna of Sokoto was opposed to the unitary system. -- Ibrahim Kaleel, President of NULGE said he is the author of the book cited by the last Speaker and that what he said was completely upside down. However, delegates keep shouting read it! read it! -- Nwosu Iheme from Imo State: He said the nation is not operating a proper federalism, but a feeding-bottle federalism where states converge on Abuja to share the Niger Delta money. He said I believe that we have to restructure this country once and for all. He supported the creation of another state in the South East. He advocated for parity of states in all the zones. He supported the recommendation of the Committee that LG should not the tier of government. 11.15 Dakun Shown, a former Speaker of the Plateau House of Assembly: He said while in offic3e his official car was 504 and the back-up car was a Beetle. He said the official vehicles being used by public officers should be cut down by 80% and the vehicles should be Nigerian-made car. He said he is a minority within a minority and therefore LGs should not be scrapped. -- Maryam Ladi Ibrahim from Kogi: She said what happens at the local government is all about accountability. She said the level of corruption in the states and said she would support modified presidential system. She said we must sanctioned whoever erred because people always display impunity. She said if the recommendations of the Committee were accepted it would help for better governance. 11.07 Proff. Femi Mimiko, praised the committee for delivering a good job. He stressed that the indivisibility should not remain on the lips alone. He advised that every body need to be courageous enough to find a fundamental lasting solution to the problems of Nigeria. He also supported the creation of state in the S/E stressing that denying them that will amount to inequality. He argued that local governments should be removed in from the constitution of Nigeria and it should not be a basis for wealth sharing in the country. 11.00 Engnr. Ebele Okeke representing Retired Civil Servants speaking on power rotation, supports the recommendation because it will create a sense of belonging, not only between the north and the south but between the geo-political zones. She also aligned with other delegates supporting states creation for the S/E. -- Dr. Clement Ngbada spoke vigorously on the practice of true and strengthened federalism. He said that the federation should be divided into two tiers to include the federal and state government, and that the local governments should fall under the control of states. 10.47 Haruna Yerima from Kano State said I respect Magaji Dambattta because he has been a good man and he worked with Sardauna of Sokoto. He said the Sardauna would not have used the words used by Mr. Dambatta. He asked him to apologise to the Conference. 10.46 Olu Falae, from Ondo State said the existing states were dashed to all of us by the military but in dashing states they forgot to dash the South East. He said Nigeria cannot be a unitary state and that if it favours some sides, it is not a reason we should be have it. He said he served in government without stealing money. He said separation of powers came out of American history and experience and was not designed by God. -- Goddy Uwazuruike stood up and demanded that Mr. Dambatta should apologise over his language. -- Magaji Dambatta from Kano State said many of the recommendations of this committee have not yet met the yearning of Nigerians even though members have deep knowledge of the countrys polity. He cited instances recommendations on local government system, state creation and SIECs. He said at the end of the day the recommendations of the committee. Some delegates shouted him down no! no! no! He said it was irrational by recommending one state for the South East. Many delegates are still shouting at him in disapproval, but refused to stop speaking . -- Abdullahi Muhammadu, Emir of Askira, Borno State said the federal system is the best for this country. He said the recommendation of marrying presidential and parliamentary system by the Committee does not allow for checks and balances. He said bi-cameral system is better for a country like Nigeria. He said every year they award contract for the construction. He said Local government should be the third tier of government, saying the only relationship I have with this country is the local government. -- Daniel Maddo commended the Committee for their excellent report. He proposed the strengthening the State House of Assembly by giving them financial autonomy because they are merely appendages of the executive arm. He asked for justice and equity in running of government. -- Justice Akere congratulated the Committee for a job well done. He said that additional state in the South East was agreed previously and that the Conference was only re-emphasizing it. He said the state that will emerge out of the South East will meet the provisions of the Constitution. He wondered if all the state agitations meet the requirements, especially viability. He said if we are true practising true federalism the Federal Government ought not to fund the local governments. 10.34 EARLIER TODAY ---------------------------------- Goddy Uwaruike from the South East said he supported the creation of state in the zone. He however suggested that each of the geo-political zones should have nine states. He supported a unicameral legislature. He said the president and vice should run as a ticket. He said the ministers should be appointed from the legislature. He supported empowering the INEC. -- Buba Galadima, a delegate from Yobe State castigated some he did not name over the definition of true federalism. He said if we want democracy we must go full whole and if we want true federalism we must go full whole. He said he is support of the creation of states provided they satisfy certain conditions. I will not say here and discriminate against anybody. If we talk of equity lets set the standard. He said local government should be the third tier of government and should be financially and politically independent and should not be in the hand of the governors. -- Aishat Ismail, a former Women Affairs Minister said she would not support a weak LGs. she recommended that the LGs should be on first line charge. she said LGs should not remove from the constitution but should be strengthened. She said the nation needs a strong vice president. She said the FCT people should not only be paid compensation but should be given back their villages. She said she is from Kano and that she wants another state created from Kano. -- Professor Sam Egwu said a holistic view of all the recommendations taken so far. He commended the committee for addressing crucial issues and that some of the recommendations should be upheld. For instance, the State of the National address. He proposed that the president and the vice should run on one ticket so that the vice would not be a puppet. he should draw his legitimacy from the people.He said constitutional design is done based on the reality of a country. He opposed unicameral system of legislature and supported the retention of SIECs. -- Nasir Kura: Oppose the scrapping of the local governments. He said whoever is asking for state creation should be given, but it should not be on the basis of personal interest of the bourgeoisie. -- Chris Eluemulor from Anambra State said the LGs should remain as a tier of government. -- Mohammed Othman, a blind delegate said when he came to the Conference he could not read but soon after another delegate helped by providing what he used to read the reports of all 20 Committees. He opposed the tampering of local government system in any way because according to him it takes care of those marginalised. 10.30 Delegates are still deliberating on the report submitted by the committee on Political restructuring and Forms of Government.
Posted on: Fri, 04 Jul 2014 07:55:35 +0000
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