The devolution of power, resource control and the creation of State Police were on the front burner as the two-day South-South Zonal Public Hearing of the House of Representatives Special Committee on the review of the Nigerian Constitution holding in Asaba Delta State.
Three States, Delta, Bayelsa and Edo, in their presentations agreed that the Federal Government had to yield some of its responsibilities to the States and that mineral resources should be fully controlled by the States where they are found.
The three States also agreed on the creation of State Police to battle the problem of insecurity in the country’.
Presenting the position of Delta State, Prof Sam Ukala, lamented that the State’s natural resource, oil, had become its doom, following unhealthy methods of oil exploitation and gas flaring which has endangered the land and its people.
Prof. Ukala said it was unfair that despite being responsible for a quarter of the nation’s wealth, the State has become impoverished and marginalized due to a defective federal system currently being practiced in the country.
“To eliminate the ills against the people of Delta it is pertinent that 1999 constitution be amended to divest the country of the unitary toga and grant the people true federalism for equitable distribution and sharing of powers.
We recommended that 22 out of the current 68 items on the exclusive list be moved to the concurrent list.
Delta State also recommended that States should have absolute control of their resources and that the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) submit its revenue formula directly to National Assembly for consideration and not through the Presidency as is currently the case,” he said.
Also making a presentation on behalf of Bayelsa State, the State’s Attorney General, Briyai Dambo, said States should be in full control of their resources and only pay taxes to the Federal Government in line with democratic best practices.
He said the constitution and all relevant laws must be amended to give ownership of all mineral resources to the States where they are found.
Mr. Dambo said “This would encourage competition and productivity among States in the country and translate to economic prosperity for the country.”
He also called for six additional local government areas to the existing eight in the State.
On the creation of State Police, Mr. Dambo said crimes are community based and require a community based approach and that State Governors should have control of their security apparatus as securing lives and property should not be the exclusive responsibility of the Federal Government.
He reiterated that the 68 items on the exclusive list is too heavy for the Federal Government and some of them should be transferred to or concurrently managed by the FG and States.
Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Marcus Onobun, who presented the State’s position said the power of the government at the Centre with respect to resource control and revenue generation should be reduced substantially.
Mr. Onobun said the current lopsided situation, where all revenues accruing to the nation is more in favour of the Federal Government with 68 items in the exclusive list, should be revisited and reviewed in favour of States.
While canvassing a move that every State should be allowed to determine the number of local governments it can create or have, he called for a Unicameral legislature for the country at the federal level with each State having not less than five representatives.
Earlier the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Wase, said the ongoing efforts to amend the Nigerian constitution is an opportunity for them to write their names in gold in the history of the country.
Wase, who is the chairman of the Committee, assured Nigerians they would ensure justice is done to every presentation made at the public hearing.
“This is a golden opportunity for us to write our names in gold so that we would give a stable Nigeria a document to work with. I want to assure you that we shall do those things that would promote the unity, happiness and prosperity of Nigeria.” He said.
The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr. Ndudi Elumelu, said the public hearing is a direct response by the 9th National Assembly to the aspiration and demand by Nigerians for an urgent amendment to certain fundamental provisions of the 1999 Constitution to guarantee a peaceful, socially cohesive, politically stable and economically viable nation.
Mr. Elumelu, who is also the Chairman South-South Public Hearing (Asaba Centre), said they were conscious of the fact that every democratic constitution is made by the people for the fulfilment of their collective aspirations and objective as a society.
“Consequently, any constitution that does not guarantee the fulfillment of such aspirations, is to the extent of such shortcomings, defective, frustrating and cannot deliver benefits to the people. Instead, such constitutions breed discontentment, dissonances, agitations, violence, restiveness, economic retardation and political frictions.” Mr. elumelu added.
While expressing the commitment of the 9th National Assembly to meet the aspiration of Nigerians in the current amendment exercise, he pointed out that the amendment process would not accommodate the disintegration of the country, as the unity of the country is not negotiable.
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