Abdul-Rahman Abubakar
21 November 2008
Revenue allocation, federalism, immunity clause, systems of local government, state creation, electoral system and separation of powers should be some of the priority areas of the National Assembly's Joint Constitution Review Committee (JCRC), Senate President David Mark said while inaugurating the committee in Abuja yesterday.
He said, "I recommend that priority be accorded to most urgent and compelling areas that beg for review. These in my view include but not restricted to the following; revenue allocation, federalism, immunity clause, systems of local government, state creation, electoral system and separation of powers."
While advising on incremental amendments to the constitution, Senator Mark said "the previous attempt failed because that report proposed in one fell swoop a basket of 120 amendments."
He argued that the previous attempt to amend the constitution was thwarted by the third term ambitions of the then government of the day, saying "the last effort at constitution review failed because of the acrimony engendered principally by the proposal fortenure elongation, otherwise known as third term."
While calling on all Nigerians to jettison any illusion that the constitution can be amended holistically, Mark said "the past history of our attempts at constitutional democracy has been a checkered one, marked by miss-steps, brutal interruptions, and long periods of military authoritarian rules. The result is that our nation so richly blessed in human and material resources continued to stagnate and to abdicate its rightful place in the comity of the greatest nations of the world."
He said the 1999 constitution was neither the product of a plebiscite, referendum, nor a national conference but was bequeathed to us by the departing military and promulgated into law by military fiat.
On his part, Speaker of the House of Representatives Dimeji Bankole urged the committee not to let Nigerians down and to be realistic in their approach. He said, "I hereby congratulate and challenge you to rise to the high expectations and justify the confidence reposed in you. I urge the committee to identify and propose only realistic and sustainable solutions to the current contentious issues that continue to plague and retard progress in our country."
Bankole also reminded them of the historical significance of the assignment before them, saying "I would also go further to remind members of the committee that posterity would not judge us kindly if we miss the present opportunity to right the wrongs that have created distrust, instability and stunted growth in our country."
He added, "I have no doubt that despite the daunting task before the committee, members are capable both individually and collectively to surmount the challenges. You are expected to bring your wealth of experience to bear on this crucial national assignment. It is my fervent hope and prayer that almighty God will guide, protect and endow members with the necessary wisdom and courage to excel in this national calling."
"I wish to pledge the support of the leadership of the National Assembly. Finally may I use the opportunity of this forum to invite the public and all key stakeholders to take full advantage of this window or opportunity to ventilate their views and opinions on how we should move this nation to a higher level."
Chairman of the Joint Constitution Review Committee and the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu said the issue of electoral reforms will be given high priority in the process of the review. He said, "The committee hopefully will adopt an incremental approach to the assignment. All the countries with similar constitution including the United States of America successfully amended certain sections of their constitution in a progressive, pragmatic and incremental manner. We will assemble the issues raised but I believe our task will be made easier if we focus on a few areas in the first instance," the chairman said.
None of the thirty six state governors attended the formal inauguration of the committee yesterday, contrary to earlier expectations. Sources close to the leadership of the National Assembly told Daily Trust that "all the thirty six state governors were properly invited by the leadership of the National Assembly to attend the formal inauguration of the committee."
However, our reporters observed that a particular section of the auditorium that was specially kept for the governors remained empty up to the end of the inauguration.
The committee which is expected to commence work immediately has eighty (88) members drawn from both the Senate and the House of Representatives, with each chamber producing 44 members. A budgetary provision of N1 billion has been included in the 2008 appropriation for the constitution review exercise.
Daily Trust learnt that the JCRC commenced its assignment immediately after inauguration with a meeting of all members chaired by Senator Ekweremadu.
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Nigeria Cando Organization ( www.nigeriacando.org ) is excited to hear that the Constitutional Review Committee is now inaugurated and ready to work. We believe that all Nigerian communities, towns and cities shall have a constitutional power to elect their leaders, demand accountabilities and the principles of checks and balances shall apply in a democratic way that is all inclusive in decision making. Our dream is to rally all prodemocracy groups and individual to see that the right of Nigerian communities is enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution. Democracy at the grassroots will usher in peace, stability in polity, bring socioeconomic transformation to the people and move our country forward. More info at www.nigeriacando.org
i will mention few issues right now. -give all the zones equal number of states. -pass the freedom of information bill by constitutional means. -make it possible that presidents must come from all the zones in nigeria, by rotation. -above all, if obama can be president of america, it is overdue that an ibo man, should be president of nigeria by now, u bastards. -give the oil producers their rights, u pen robbers. -stop the racism in nigeria. -create local govts. and elect the officials. -make rigging of elections, a capital offence. any party that rigs elections should be disbanded. -ensure a time limit for every court to dispose a case. cases should not be forever. so that they can get to supreme court quick, for permanent disposal. i am as usual, CAPITAL G.C.
Granting that the 1999 constitution was a pr oduct of military rule,that was the reason why they proposed 120 ammendments.The ammendment procedure prescribed by the military also needs ammendment.Usually Federal constitutions are ammended by a plebiscite/referendum,not by a house committee which may be dominated by the party in majority.We can learn from the Us system. Mazianyaogu writes from USA.