Strong indication emerged Tuesday, that constitution review exercise by the 9th National Assembly has hit the rocks on account of refusal of 25 State Houses of Assembly refusing to consider any of the 44 items sent to them for concurrence.

The affected 25 State Houses of Assembly as lamented by the Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo–Agege, are requesting the National Assembly to include establishment of State Police, State Judicial Council, streamlining of procedures for removing Presiding officers of State Houses of Assembly, and institutionalization of Legislative Bureaucracy in the Constitution.

Omo–Agege who briefed the Press in his capacity as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, said the position of the 25 States against the review exercise without the inclusion of the four demands, was communicated to them via letter written to that effect by Conference of Speakers of State Assemblies.

He said only 11 out of the 36 States Houses of Assembly, have considered some of the 44 bills transmitted to them for concurrence in March this year.

The 11 states he added are Abia, Akwa–Ibom, Anambra, Delta, Edo, Kaduna, Katsina, Kogi, Lagos, Ogun, and Osun.

He described the situation at hand as most disheartening, coming six solid months after the 44 bills have been sent to the states for consideration.

He alleged that refusal of the 25 State Assemblies to consider the bills was a case of hand of Esau, voice of Jacob.

He pointedly said that governors of the affected 25 States are behind actions taken by respective Assemblies as a way of frustrating effort at giving financial and administrative autonomy to local government councils across the country.

He said: “Six months after transmitting 44 Bills to State Assemblies for concurrence, it is most disheartening to inform you that only 11 State Houses of Assembly have demonstrated their independence and loyalty to the Constitution regarding the bills.

“25 State Houses of Assembly have yet to consider and vote on these bills. So far, only Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Delta, Edo, Kaduna, Katsina, Kogi, Lagos, Ogun and Osun States have successfully considered, voted on, and forwarded their resolutions on the 44 bills to the National Assembly.

“More worrisome is that while we are still expecting the receipt of the resolutions of the remaining Houses of Assembly, we received a letter from the Conference of Speakers of State Assemblies informing the National Assembly that the remaining states will not act on the 44 Bills unless the National Assembly passes four new Bills they have proposed in the letter.

“The Bills they propose seek to amend the Constitution to: [b]Establish State Police; Establish State Judicial Council; Streamline the procedure for removing Presiding Officers of State Houses of Assembly; and institutionalize Legislative Bureaucracy in the Constitution.

“The National Assembly is in no way averse to acting on any proposed Bill or memoranda appropriately tabled before it, at any time in its life.

“However, it is legally inappropriate for the Conference of Speakers to use the four Bills as a quid pro quo to act on the 44 Bills the National Assembly 44 Bills transmitted.

“It is clear, and we cannot overstate, that this letter is not in keeping with the obligation the Constitution has placed on them regarding the Constitutional amendment.

“It is disheartening that some State Houses of Assembly, through the Conference of Speakers, would give the National Assembly conditions before fulfilling their constitutional obligations.

“Although the Conference of Speakers did not allude to it in their letter, we are aware of the undue interference with legislative processes and the political capture of some State Houses of Assembly by some State Governors.

“No doubt, some State Governors have worked tirelessly to turn the Conference of Speakers and some State Assemblies into political puppets, thereby undermining and delegitimising the legislative institution at the state level.

“This interference has been ramped up, especially in opposition to the Bills granting financial and administrative autonomy to Local Governments”.

In their separate remarks, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Ayuba Wabba and President of National Union of Local Government Employees ( NULGE), Comrade Ambali Olatunji, commended the National Assembly on financial and administrative autonomy proposed for local government councils.

They both called on the affected 25 State Houses of Assembly to concur to the Constitution amendments in the interest of good governance at the grassroots.

Source:
https://www.blueprint.ng/dead-end-for-constitution-review-as-25-states-demand-state-police-others/

Hmm

Very good... The problem is how many states will be able to pay.

The Nigerian constitution is a pure full blown scam

I swear ^{Peter Obi✓} is worthy of emulation

How many years dem wan use drag this constitution review mata sef....

I think it's necessary this period

They won't give us state police to stop the manace of banditry ravaging our land, na Kanu and igboho be there problem.

Our govt is excellent in fighting symptoms of problems and never the root cause. They even fuel the root cause most time for bigotry sake in most cases. Now isn't it all the regions that is facing insecurity in the country?

It's a done deal! I pray our state Governors don't abuse this and use it against perceived political opponents

The other 11 or so nko?,

Very good

These ones too Sha wan become state tyrannies

Constitution GodFather of corruption..

H

I see nothing wrong with their four demands if at all we truly desire restructuring. We can't dodge the issue forever. Nigeria should entrench true federalism. Both the FG and the National Assembly want to maintain the odious status quo of weak units and an all powerful centre. It's not sustainable. Imagine what Lagos, Rivers, Anambra and Kaduna could be with true federalism.

How many states we get for Nigeria self? Walahi I don forget, na ASUU strike course it o

We all know the solutions to Nigeria problems but we are not ready to talk about it.
========Happy ENDSArs anniversary========

I look at the conduct of governors like Umahi, Wike, El-Rufai, Sanwo-Olu, Matawalle, Yahaya Bello, Ganduje, Ayade and Uzodinma and categorically say NO to state police. It will end in tears. States can have other powers but that state police, hell NO! Those cowboys will ride rough-shod over everybody.

State Police, fine.

But how many of these states can seamlessly pay a new set of additional workers?

It's not surprising that most of the 25 states left out are mostly the Northern states, meaning if they can press further, their demands would be met, Nigeria can't keep trying the same method and be expecting a different results...

Looking at the situation at hand, you cannot bring someone from Adamawa state as DPO who doesn't know the terrains in Oyo state to effectively fight off criminal elements in your vicinity, look at our local vigilante, most of them are doing very well with just a pump action and matchet, if this guys are hamonize into the security forces as your local state police who knows the in and out including every nook and crannies in the community, the issue of criminal elements disguising amongs citizens will be reduced to the barest minimum...It would be better we give it a trial and see how it goes.

Jennylove21:
Hmm

why you dey moan? Don't write comments on nairaland while having sex or using your fingers

Even the national assembly are acting like they mean well for Nigerian's

Pwettylinda:
Very good

na your original yansh be dat abi na package you packaged am?

Catching last cruise in office

========Happy ENDSArs anniversary========

That's the way to go

State police is the best for Nigeria