Adebayo Adenrele
Members of Southwest Centre B of House of Assemblies comprising Ekiti, Ondo and Osun States, have called for the conferment of proclamation powers on Clerks of Houses of Assembly, rather than on Governors.
This, as part of the critical items for amendments in the ongoing review of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, was geared towards ensuring genuine independence of the legislative arm.
The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye led the key players in the Southwest Centre B, comprising Ekiti, Ondo, and Osun States, gathered on Friday at the DOME Centre in Akure, Ondo State, to present their positions on the proposed amendments being handled by the 10th House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review.
This was contained in a statement signed and made available to journalists by his Special Adviser on Media, Babajide Agbeyo.
The Ekiti Speaker, who spoke on behalf of Assembly Speakers and lawmakers across Nigeria, expressed their alignment with the position of State Governors on issues such as true federalism, resource control by states, recognition of existing Local Council Development Areas ,LCDAs as Local Governments, and the establishment of State Police, among others.
Aribasoye, who chairs the Southwest Conference of Speakers, added that state assemblies frown at situations where duly elected lawmakers, in possession of a certificate of return, are prevented from taking the oath of office based on the whims and caprices of a state governor.
The statement continues, “Other positions supported include reserved seats for women in parliament, a constitutional quota system for youth representation, and broader legislative reforms, among other important aspects.
“In an earlier presentation, the Ekiti State Attorney General, Dayo Apata, SAN, who represented the State Governor , reiterated the state’s desire for the upgrade of its LCDAs to full Local Government status, the implementation of community policing, prohibition of indiscriminate cattle grazing, and greater inclusion and fair representation for women and People Living with Disabilities.
“Also speaking, the host Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and the Deputy Governor of Osun State, Price Kola Adewusi emphasized the importance of true federalism, noting it would strengthen the federating units and deliver broad-based benefits.
“The forum, which also accommodated the inputs of the general public, featured presentations from labour and trade unions, women’s groups, traditional rulers, and other categories of stakeholders.
“Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution is currently undergoing review, with the National Assembly actively engaging in public hearings, consultations, and related activities through its committees in both the Senate and House of Representatives.
“The amendment process, which requires concurrence from a reasonable percentage of state assemblies, seeks to address critical national issues, including restructuring, local government autonomy, state policing, and national security”.
