The demand of elderstates-men for constituents assembly, by Kola Amzat
During penultimate week, the highly revered and, one of illustrious sons that Nigeria has ever produced, Emeka Anyaoku led a group of Elder statesmen to Aso Villa with only one Agenda in their minds: That President Bola Tinubu should consider constituting “CONSTITUENTS ASSEMBLY” that would draft a new constitution for the country.
Even though, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces made it abundantly clear to the wise men that his present priority is to ensure that the nation economy is put on the sound and proper footing, the president nonetheless confirmed that he would definitely accord their demand serious consideration, after he might have reasonably draw curtains on the current economic and socio-political challenges plaguing the nation.
And, why not?
This writer could assure the patriotic men of honors who visited the president that their trip to Aso Villa would never be in vain as they’d conferred and engaged with a president, who himself is an embodiment of democratic ethos, principles and ideology, and more importantly would desire to be a front liner amongst the history makers.
No iota of doubt, the demand of the Elder statesmen is obviously germane and not out of place when consider that the bone of contention-1999 Constitution as amended is jaundiced, replete with contradictions and cumbersome with respect to sections and subsections, and more importantly falls short of democratic traditions and customs in quite a number of instances, as the constitution was forcibly foisted on the nation by past military authority.
Firstly, the American presidential system of government we wholly adopted is damn too expensive for our situation.
It’s therefore an AUSPICIOUS time for the nation to hug and embrace a home democratic setting.
The Bicameral legislative system that comprises of 109 Senators and 360 House of Reps members remains a bane to Nigerian democratic governance since the turn of 4th Republic in 1999.
Of course, Nigerians of discerning minds are never in doubt that maintaining these two (2) chambers has been very overwhelming and undesirable locusts & cankerworms on the nation Treasury.
Expectedly, in the new constitution, the country could do exceedingly well with a Unicameral chamber of about 120 constitutionally elected Nigerians that could be called “Parliamentary members”
It’s also important to submit that it’s not obligatory that 36 states must be represented by equal number of Parliamentary members.
The new constitution should EMPHASIS the need for representation to be on the basis of population.
For instance, states like Kano, Lagos, Katsina etc should as a matter of necessity have more Parliamentary members than others.
In any case, the electoral body in conjunction with other relevant Agencies of government should be able to work acceptable and satisfactory criteria in the interest of all.
Educationally, the new constitution should make it MANDATORY minimum of 1st Degree qualification for all Parliamentary members.
On a related note, the present process of recall of an erring, non-performing and belligerent parliamentarian, as enshrined in the constitution is laborious, riotous and very cumbersome.
Since 1999, is it that none of the national or state assembly member had or has not misbehaved or thoroughly been found wanting to justify recall? Not at all!
The new constitution should ensure that this obvious anomaly is redressed and permanently corrected with a view to ensuring the emergence of new members who are responsive, responsible, people-oriented and very patriotic to Nigerian project.
It’s also imperative that new constitution should be able to redefine Parliamentary member tenure.
The present arrangement whereby national and state members practically make the chamber their retirement abode, through an open-ended tenure don’t augur well for the contemporary democratic governance when there is obvious increase in political participation particularly amongst the teeming youths population across the country and more importantly, with Nigerian population growing exponentially.
The above contemporary challenges have make it more compelling that legislative member both at national and state assembly MUST not have more than three (3) terms tenure maximum in order to open up political space for others to participate and realize their political dreams.
In the executive arm, the constitution compelling the president to always appoint one (1) cabinet minister from each state, in addition with one (1) minister each from each of the six (6) Geo-political zones is not healthy and cost-effective on the nation Treasury, as it constitutes unnecessary drain of the nation resources, because it continually fuels high cost of governance, more especially with the retinue of senior and junior aides for each of the minister.
Conveniently, the nation could do with about twenty (20) cabinet ministers to assist the president to run the country very functionally, effectively and efficiently, after-all, there are equally special advisers in place, and more importantly, permanent secretary/s who are indeed the career officers and engine room in each of the ministry.
Also, the new constitution should appreciate the diversity, and complexity of the country, particularly with regard to ethnic groups, multi-lingual and multi-religions.
Suffice to submit that, every ethnic group desire to be represented at the executive arm of government, the only political CITADEL where power & authority flows to all Nigerians.
So it won’t be out of place for the new constitution to, moving forward, stipulates six (6) years single tenure for Nigerian president and governors, as well as two (2) vice presidents from other Geo-political zone other than the zone where president emerges.
The above, is after President Tinubu might have completed his two (2) terms tenures of eight (8) years.
Also, the new constitution should make it mandatory minimum of 1st Degree qualification for the president and all cabinet members.
To ensure the infrastructural and economic development across the country, the new constitution should bring into effect the independence of the three (3) tiers of government-Federal, State and Local government council.
The continual tying of the fortunes of LGC to the apron strings of state governments is inimical, counter-productive, retarding and not in consonance with contemporary democratic order across the globe.
It’s also the major reason why hunger, poverty, deprivation and hardship have been the lot of millions of Nigerians at grassroots and downtrodden, on account of state governors deliberate and intentional actions to stifle development at LGC level-economically, socio-political and infrastructural wise.
In order to realize this objective, the new constitution should ensure the creation of new Independent Electoral Body that would oversee the conduct of election at the Local government level.
With respect to the traditional Institution, the new constitution must redefine constitutional role for monarchs across the federation, as well as making it practically cumbersome and almost impossible for their dethronement, especially by the rampant, overzealous and exuberant governors. This development would accord the royal father sense of belonging in the Nigerian project.
On police, Nigerians in all walks of life have for years been clamoring for police reforms and restructuring, with many calling for creation of state police.
As much as this writer is not averse to the above clamor, the country would not make any significant progress in the event of creation of state police as political authority at state level would deploy the security force to continually oppress and terrorize the political foes and opposition alike.
So, the country run the risk of creating more problems at the state level that it desire to solve, as there would be continual tension, apprehension and violence all over the states across the federation.
However, there is no iota of doubt that the nation Police Force indeed need to be reformed and restructured for utmost efficiency.
The new constitution should reasonably stipulate number of police that would efficiently and effectively police the country, in all nooks & crannies.
Presently, the police ratio of about 1:600 Nigerians is not acceptable, counter-productive and more importantly, insensitive to increasing level of criminality and banditry in the country.
The constitution must therefore stipulate an acceptable standard that could at least be in consonance with UN standard of 1:400.
Of course, there is perennial controversy of resource control, with vociferous voices of Niger Delta people very dominant in this respect.
But, this writer would like to enquire from my country men and women in the zone: What has become of several trillions of Naira that have accrued to the region over 4 decades?
Nonetheless, the new constitution should be able to offer the zone a new deal say 13.5 % as against the present arrangement of 13%, but, with constitutional provision for instituting an efficient and transparent monitoring mechanisms of deployment of resources to what they’re purposed.
Of course, the new constitution should consider REVISITING 68 items contained in Exclusive legislative list, with a view to TRANSFER few to Concurrent list for state government also to legislative on.
The Item in this regard could be Mineral Resources, Traffic on Federal Roads, Railways, Stamp Duties, Public Holidays, Posts, Telegraph, Telephones, Taxation of Income, Profits and Capital Gains
The new constitution presents appropriate time to enter into new regime of Regional Administration.
The constitution should ensure that the country is delineated along six (6) regional lines-South West/Middle West(Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, Itsekiri/Urhobo in Delta state, as well as Okun in Kogi state), South/South(Edo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Cross Rivers, Bayelsa), South/East(Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Imo and Ebonyi), North Central(Nassarawa, Plateau, Kaduna, Benue, Niger and Kogi) North East(Bauchi, Taraba, Gombe, Bornu, Yobe and Adamawa), as well as North West(Sokoto, Kebbi, Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara and Katsina).
The above segmentation has taken into consideration and cognizance of diversity-ethnic groups, religions, cultures & traditions as well as languages.
Without doubt, new Constitution to be drafted by the Constituents Assembly would be a WIN-WIN situation for Nigerians across the country, irrespective of creed, religion, ethnicity, customs and traditions.
History therefore beckons on our charismatic and deep thinking president, a democrat of gargantuan standing to allow the manifestation of this awesome initiative of new constitutional drafting.
Of course, the president would succeed in writing his name in GOLD for ever if the new constitution comes to manifestation.
Even though, there could be challenges on the president’s path particularly with national assembly members who might be largely indifferent, but, Nigerians have absolute trust and confidence that President Tinubu has the capacity and wherewithal to navigate through them.
Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB)
Lagos based Financial & Management Consultants,
09077509348.
