Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has expressed disappointment over the failure of state legislatures to grant autonomy to local government in the ongoing constitution amendment.
Receiving the returns of the voting by states houses of assembly on the Constitution Amendment Bill transmitted to them for assent by the National Assembly, the speaker said all hope is not lost as they can still decide to give their approval when the National Assembly presents it again in the future for the sake of deepening and delivering the dividends of democracy to the grassroots.
He, however, commended the lawmakers for granting state legislatures autonomy, saying they were courageous to take the bold step.
“I must commend you for deciding that the legislature in states should be independent. However, this is not an expression of the opinion of the National Assembly, I want to appropriate this as my personal opinion. I can say that I am disappointed because I thought that the courage demonstrated by these highly skilled legislators, some of whom are seated before us, would have delivered the long awaited local government autonomy, but unfortunately, maybe our courage didn’t go that far.
“But you see, courage isn’t really the absence of fear, but it is acting in spite of your fears and if it was not because of men and women of courage, I tell you that the democracy itself that we experience now wouldn’t have been possible. When William Wilberforce said slaves must be free, he belonged to the party, majority of whom, were slave owners and on account of that, a revolution started,” he told the state legislators.
Hon Dogara said while most of the measures the National Assembly is seeking to introduce may not be popular, if they stand by them, the kind of future that will come from it will only ensure the deepening of democracy and the progress of our Nigeria.
He added that, “Just as this one (financial independence for state legislatures) failed the other time, maybe in the next exercise, because our state legislatures are now independent, they will be able to extend this same independence to local governments. We all know the benefits of the independence of the 3rd tier, we all know that.”
The speaker urged President Muhammadu Buhari to give assent to the bill, especially as it represents the wishes of the Nigerian people expressed through the federal and state representatives in the legislature.
Clauses approved by the state houses of Assembly include reduction of period for extra budgetary expenditure by the Execvutove from six to three months , Legislative immunity for lawmakers, new regulations governing conducts of bye elections by INEC, removal of the word “Force” from Nigeria Police, limiting the tenure of presidents and governors to eight years by not taking oath of office more than twice, reduction in age for elective offices, stipulation of date for budget presentation by the President , inclusion of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps in the constitution among others.

Source... The abuja inquirer

If the NASS had devoted a quarter of the energy it dissipates squaring up with executive over frivolous issues to making or amending extant laws that guarantee LG autonomy and subsequently provide unbiased mentoring, the situation would have been much more different.
The NASS failed in its legislative functions to say the least.Rather than devote attention to its primary responsibilities they rather got enmeshed in a struggle to be first among equals. If PMB has chosen to pocket the NASS the way all the state govts pocketed their various legislatures, Dogara/Saraki would have been better NASS men- they need a strong and an overbearing president to reset their thinking faculties.

docadams:
If the NASS had devoted a quarter of the energy it dissipates squaring up with executive over frivolous issues to making or amending extant laws that guarantee LG autonomy and subsequently provide unbiased mentoring, the situation would have been much more different.
The NASS failed in its legislative functions to say the least.Rather than devote attention to its primary responsibilities they rather got enmeshed in a struggle to be first among equals. If PMB has chosen to pocket the NASS the way all the state govts pocketed their various legislatures, Dogara/Saraki would have been better NASS men- they need a strong and an overbearing president to reset their thinking faculties.

so NASS should be blame for the failure of state assemblies right? and you thinking that the best way to make democracy great is to encourage dictatorship shows how myopic and shallow your knowledge is in governance... you deserve to be a citizen of North Korea

State legislature failed to write their name in gold but with them or without them Nigérian will survive atlast!

And they say they want restructuring yet they don't want LGA autonomy.these guys are confirmed hypocrites

These State Legislators even rejected their own Autonomy during the last constitutional ammendment. While they must be commended for, at least, agreeing to extricate themselves from "Slavery", it is quite disappointing that they didn't extend this "Freedom" to cover local government administration.

Limiting the tenure of presidents and governors to two terms of eight years? What was it before?

Yorubaangel:
so NASS should be blame for the failure of state assemblies right? and you thinking that the best way to make democracy great is to encourage dictatorship shows how myopic and shallow your knowledge is in governance... you deserve to be a citizen of North Korea

What do you really know. Tell me how old are you and how long/well have you experienced democracy in Nigeria. Nigerian democracy is as varied in many ways as its population, the reason why spoilt dolts like you will just stick your nostril into any issue and comment without reservation in the name of democracy and freedom of speech. If society were much stricter, your types would be compelled to undergo proper development before society lessens its control thereby ensuring a better citizen. But what do we have, ill-bred generation of disrespectful brats.

docadams:


What do you really know. Tell me how old are you and how long/well have you experienced democracy in Nigeria. Nigerian democracy is as varied in many ways as its population, the reason why spoilt dolts like you will just stick your nostril into any issue and comment without reservation in the name of democracy and freedom of speech. If society were much stricter, your types would be compelled to undergo proper development before society lessens its control thereby ensuring a better citizen. But what do we have, ill-bred generation of disrespectful brats.

You simply confirmed @yorubaangel's opinion about yoursrlf.