Senate Deputy President, Senator Ike Ekeremadu

By Victor Efeizomor 

Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution   has suggested a   five years single tenure for president, Vice-President, Governors and Deputy Governors for the nation  in order to deepen democratic culture and ensure sustainable development in the country.

The Committee that raped up its two day retreat Saturday in Asaba, the Delta State capital also tinkered with the ideas on;  power devolution  for true federalism,  creation of state police, removal of  immunity clause,  financial autonomy  for state House of Assembly ,  creation of more states , judicial reforms and indigenship  and section 42 of the constitution. 

The committee  suggested , “ one tearm of 5 years for the President, Vice- President , Governors and Deputy Governors, Delovution  of powers for true Federalism, indigenship  and section 45 of the Constitution ,
Financial  autonomy for State House of Assembly  to strengthen  them , creation of one state for the South East  zone  for equity and  fairness , necessity  for cration of State police  revisit of the immunity clause and judicial reform”

Chairman of the Committee and Senate Leader, Senator, Victor Ndoma-Egba,  who read out the five page resolution of the committee  during his closing remarks,   said “in moving forward,  the 47
member  committee  will  synergies   with  stakeholders, governors, state Houses of Assembly, civil societies, the Nigerian Bar Association and the media  to generate sufficient national conversation  around  the issues  and other issues of interest  to Ngerians  to  build  a national consensus,  and conduct  public hearing”  to fashion   out an  enduring , sustainable  acceptable constitution for the country.

He said “the  committee  calls on all  proponets  of a conference by whatever name  called to feel  free to submit   their  view to the committee .  the committee reiterate  the  fact that there can be no other  sovereignty  that  can be right  of  hold   opinions and to  freely associate and will therefore encourage  Nigerians  to discuse  the future of our dear country , the insistence by  certain quarters  for Soverengn  National Conference is untenable as there can only be one- sovereignity” 

Senate Deputy President, Senator, Ike Ekeremadu and Chairman of Committee promised to that the National Assembly will ensure that our constitution is given a true federal status.

Senator  Smart Adeyemi, (CON)  representing Kogi West  in his submission  said the creation of state policy is most imperative and long overdue occasioning from the peculiar  nature of the nations federal system of government , adding that “you cannot sit in Abuja and bring a police man from  maidugrey or Kogi state  to come and police Delta  state because the people of the area know the hideouts of the criminals , these are the challenges ,  but in as much as I am in support of state police we should be able to put in some clause in the constitution  to prevent politicians from using  it against political opponents” .

Adeyemi  who also   advocated  for the  retention of   immunity clause in the nations constitution  for public office holders  on civil matters added that immunity clauses should removed on criminal cases as “ if there is sufficient reason that a governor has embezzled so much money , then why should leave him in office , if it’s a breach of the constitution, you do not allow him to commit more damage before he goes , so we should review the immunity clause in such a way that all that affect the civil matters , they can have immunity, but on criminal matters , they should be prosecuted”.

Governor of Rivers State ,  Rt. Hon. Chibuke Amaechi  stated that issues like revenue sharing  formular,  questions on the federating units and issues of  state police need  to be addressed properly , adding that the state that  can fund  state police should  be allowed  to operate it  with minimal requirements , adding that immunity is an  essential  tool for good governance.

Governor  Emmanuel  Uduaghan  called for the removal of obnoxious law  from the constitution  such as  the Land  Petroleum Act  and Section  443 of the 1999 constitution as these  laws have  mitigated against the development  of the Niger Delta region.  He advocated for states to have lager control of the revenue and resources   so as to ensure adequate provision of infrastructures   in the state.

Speaker , House of Representative , Rt. Hon.  Aminu Tambuwal , represented by  his Deputy, Hon  Emeka Ihedioha , noted  that the  House  recognizes all the recommendations made by various individuals  and groups  especially  on the equitable distribution  of national  resources.

The President , Nigerian  Bar Association , Joseph Bodunrin Daudu (SAN)  in a ten page presentation on “Judicial Reforms  for Sustainable Democracy  Reforms”, called for a constitutional amendments that will enhance  judicial reforms  are imperative.