Senators rise en masse against single term for president, governors The Senate’s proposal for a single term of six years to replace the current two terms of four years each for presidents and governors, received an early rejection from lawmakers Tuesday as the recommendation, part of a broad proposals to amend the constitution, came up for the first consideration. A majority of Senators who spoke on the first day of the debate, expected to wind down on Thursday, said a single term will only encourage corruption and authoritarianism as elected officials will believe they no longer have anything to do with the electorates. “This is an investment in disaster,” said an All Nigeria People’s Party senator, Ahmed Lawan, who represents Yobe state. “I want to ask the Senate to throw away everything as far as the single term is concerned-the baby, the bathing water and the towel-everything.” For the more three hours the debates lasted, other Senators echoed the same concern for a plan that has already received a good measure of opposition from outside the lawmaking chambers. The Senate constitution review committee, headed by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has said the committee’s decision was informed by a desire to deal with the distraction of re-election that has often weighed on first term performances of elected officials. But the Senators said the ills of the proposal far outweigh its merits. “Democracy is about the people, and I even think we should have midterm elections to allow the people assess their leaders after two years,” said Mohammed Ali Ndume, a member from Borno state. But the unison that lawmakers opposed the single term was lacking on other touchy subjects as the proposed removal of the immunity clause which many believe shields corrupt presidents and governors from justice. While some lawmakers welcomed the recommendation that they be made open to prosecution while in office, others criticized the move as certain to be abused with frivolous charges against the chief executives. Nearly all Senators rallied together on the proposal to allow greater autonomy for the local government, a plan that aims at saving the third tier from the abuses from state governors. Also, lawmakers differed on the plan to introduce a life pension scheme for the president and deputy president of the senate, as well as the Speaker, and deputy of the House of Representatives. Senators in support said state lawmakers should also be made beneficiaries. The debates largely hint at the direction of the final votes slated for Thursday when at least 73 Senators will be expected to approve any stipulation before passing. Still, the recommendations, more than a dozen, will remain far from becoming law as the House of Representatives will have to pass same. The Representatives have already demonstrated they will be toeing a separate line in its report laid last week. While the House of Reps proposed to withdraw the immunity stipulation, it rejected calls for a single term and a life pension for its leaders. Source: Premiumtimes
Posted on: Wed, 10 Jul 2013 17:38:24 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015