A BLOODY CELEBRATION STAGE

In 2010 we celebrated 50yrs after independence; 3 years later some Nigerians and some part of the world joined to celebrate the centenary year (100 years of existing as a united federal state).

Amidst these celebrations is a nation in crisis, a nation crying blood and full of languish. And I can’t help but ask who constitutes Nigeria? Political leaders or the people?

Once upon a time, October 1^st was a memorable event. For me, there was no school first of all; then I and my peers would head to watch or match past the Nigeria Police band and the parades of several other military and para-military formations. Very colorful indeed! For the elder ones like my parents, of course a NATIONAL holiday and by 7am they are glued to their TV sets ready to watch and listen to the Chief Executive of Nigeria or our state give a broadcast.

Morally, you don't elaborately celebrate a birthday in your house when there is a death or an eminent one by the corner...perhaps Nigeria doesn’t have morals but Nigerians do!

Is it the killings in the North East or the Fulani invasion in Benue and other North-Central states? Or are we referring to the season of letters from our obsolete leaders pointing fingers at each other playing the blame game or the alleged N6bn collected from 6m NIS job applicants and the subsequent callous statement made by the Minister of Interior regarding unemployed YOUTHS being so impatient to the extent of losing their lives? What about the Speaker of the House of Representatives accusing the President’s body language of supporting corruption or the governor of Borno alleging that members of the Boko Haram Sect are more armed than the famous Nigerian Army? To say the unimaginable, the fulanis also shot at the Chief Security Officer of Benue State. Meanwhile, Alh. Asari Dokubu a typical Niger Delta (ex) militant who alongside his cohorts have been feeding fat on the national treasury would wake up and make a statement like, if Goodluck does not get re-elected come 2015, there will be BLOODSHED. Yet no body questions such authority!  Again, the federal government exhibited their mastery in deceit, and came up with a national conference (apparently to divert attention from their sabotaging white collar policies and programmes) even when there is a legislature to determine everything that concerns us. It is rumored that about N7bn of taxpayers’ money is being voted to orchestrate this event. Gradually  the fuel queues are coming back with national dailies already anticipating a new petrol pump price of N140…hear Allison Deziani Madueke “we MUST deregulate the petroleum sector…”. With which modalities put in place; perhaps we are also encouraged to insist on cooking gas.

These association of elites make us (the ordinary Nigerians) pay so much that even when you struggle to plan, struggle again and pay the stipulated bill, they are angry and would inflate the price the next day. Take for instance, parents sent their children to Unity schools in Yobe state. Some of them met death and the lucky ones who escaped were transferred to other close by Unity Schools, only for them to be asked to pay for the cost of transferring them to their new schools! May the soul of Aliyu who saw death and told his father he wasn’t returning to school only for him to be coerced by his parents to resume school and in obedience met the death he was almost avoiding, rest in perfect peace!!!

While I can go on and on and on to seem as if our blessed country is the darkest of the horses, I implore all Nigerian youths to begin conscious attempt at understanding that we hold our future and that of our generations yet unborn in our hands, only if we agree with one voice that APC, APGA, PDP, LP, AP etc are all the same. Funny enough this enemy of the ordinary Nigerian youth is aware that one day we may have nothing to eat and perhaps think of eating them; they have conducted themselves under different platforms so we don’t catch them in one place at a time. Where does the wrangling in the legislature between opposing political parties take us to? Same position I guess! At the last Ministerial nominee screening, a brave young Senator from Zamfara or so, apparently campaigning for a youthful and vibrant leadership in Nigeria asked a certain, His Excellency Alhaji (Amb) Aminu Wali if he thought it wise to appear once again in the Senate chambers to be confirmed as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after close to 30years or even more (when the Senator was pretty young up until now that he has become a Member of the red carpet chamber) of holding top government position including being a Minister and an Ambassador in many countries instead of positioning himself akin to political leaders of the then Northern Nigeria; the amiable President of the Senate, the one who knows every part of the National Assembly where there are banana peels stood to Alh Ambassador’s defense, “the time of the youths will come”. Too bad!!! Well, Matteo Renzi an Italian born in 1975 once suggested those Italian politicians who were of the same generation as Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi should retire; today he is Prime Minister of Italy! Hmmmmm!!!

It is regrettable that it seems blur as to a possible period of genuine change when government shall begin to exist for the common man in Nigeria, since some of us, either direct descendants of the ruling class or benefactors of system irregularities have continued to dine and wine with them only to share tokens of remnants when they meet with us and feel that the journey is almost smooth. After all they are currently being anointed to succeed their parents and godfathers.

Is it true that we were once called the jet age? If it is true then our children are obviously of the Rocket Age! However, a computer literate population of youths is continually being led by traditionalists in Nigeria…and we think all is right. I remember Fela’s suffering and smiling and I am also smiling.

All hope is yet not lost. In Osun, Ogbeni Rauf is thinking like us, he saved hundreds of millions of Naira to produce unique tablets (not slates, lol ) for school children (instead of painting his picture on textbooks in preparation for re-election in his state). He is definitely of the older generation but obviously has the future of his children at mind and would never undermine their thoughts or decisions. But another state governor of Benue who began his political career in the House of Representatives a little above 30 years (as acclaimed) was caught telling his people bluntly (i.e. if you like it or not) he can’t pay teachers minimum wage because the state allocation compared to other states like Rivers is meager! Gosh where lies the abundant and redundant resources of the food basket state that could yield enormous IGR? Gov. Rochas once acclaimed he is feeding the school children in Imo state in addition to free education from an enormous security vote.

How long shall we continue to celebrate when there is hunger, sufferings, mutual suspicion, deceit and deaths on the stage?  We must uncover this thick lid covering our sight for change is now and when next we gather please don’t discuss the latest cars when you are trekking or Justin Timberlake when you have confidently left tomorrow to take care of itself.

Act now and we shall once again be attempting to save our youths and democracy in Nigeria.

 

STILL ON THE CONFAB

Before now i have always argued against the current National Confab or Conference being anchored by the President Jonathan administration.

Today a list of 492 delegates have been SELECTED by whatever criteria to decide the future of Nigerians (even when there is a Legislature i.e the National Assembly saddled with such mandate).

Perhaps i do not need to begin to x-ray the resume of most of these delegates...ex governors, senators and past leaders who one time or the other had the opportunity to err the positions they intend to present at the impending Conference. Of course we can take solace in the inclusion of pressure and interest groups but how far they are able to influence the outcome of the Conference remains for us all to see.

Some of the issues emanating from the selection of the delegates show clearly that the Nigerian people are not entirely represented in the imminent Confab... for instance the Itsekiri people are not happy they were not selected to form the delegation from Delta state; we also have the Igede and Etulo in Benue state who currently face the same situation; over 20 political parties or associations are also aggrieved they were not involved. Hence, how representative is this National Conference in proffering a collective and representative output to save our democracy and country. Of course, the Tiv man from Benue will hardly portray the position of the Etulo man just as the the Ijaw man who has been at logger heads with the Istekiri man ever present a fair scenario for both tribes in Delta state.

Apparently, the National Assembly, a clear cut legislative institution has been designed to represent a large population of the Nigerian society, but it was jettisoned and its powers usurped, perhaps in a bid to provide jobs to the teeming Nigerian population..old and young to reduce the unemployment rate.

That is one problem- of composition of delegates! the other lies with the legality of the outcome of the Conference. Rumors have it that the Conference shall be conducted akin to  legislative procedure, in my own opinion a MOCK LEGISLATURE where we have substantive National and State Assemblies!

Don't forget that N7bn has been earmarked for this purpose.... and i hear the delegates are being contemplated to be accommodated in a hotel in Abuja; some of who feel they should be paid the sum of N4m per month for accommodation since they do not want people to know where they will be residing for want of confidentiality! And i ask, if you were sent to represent a people in what is seen as the limelight for a future Nigeria, would you suddenly become invisible! God bless Nigerians; protect our youths and save our democracy!!!

Report On Outstanding Bills Referred To The Committee

Report Of The House Ad-Hoc Committee On The Review Of The Constitution On Outstanding Bills Referred To The Committee Laid On Tuesday, January 28, 2014 By Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, Con, Deputy Speaker And Chairman Of The Committee

 Introduction:

The House had referred a number of Bills to the Committee for further legislative input.  The Committee treated most of them which formed part of the Report submitted to the House in July, based on which the House conducted the votes on amendment of the Constitution on 25th July, 2013.

A few of the Bills were omitted during that exercise; some were stood down as they did not undergo public hearing while a few others were referred to the Committee after the voting had taken place. 

As a result, the leadership of the House and the Committee thought it wise to conclude work on those bills before setting up a Conference Committee to liaise with the Senate for harmonization purposes.

Report on the Bills:

1.    Alteration of Section 4 of the Constitution to provide immunity for Members of the Legislature for words spoken or written at the plenary or at Committee proceedings, to guarantee freedom of speech and debate and that proceedings in legislative houses are not impeached or questioned in any court or place outside of Parliament.  The Bill was sponsored by Hon. Ali Ahmad.

It received endorsement at the Public Hearing and has been incorporated into the Bill to be presented to the House.

2.    Alteration of Section 6(6) of the Constitution to allow for the justiciability of some parts of Chapter II of the Constitution. The bill was sponsored by Hon. Emmanuel Jime.

The requirement of this bill was covered in the earlier Report of the Committee upon which voting was made on 25 July, 2013 which moved basic housing, primary healthcare, basic education, et cetera from Chapter II to Chapter IV, thereby making them justiciable.

3.    Alteration of Section 25 of the Constitution on the definition of citizenship to include all persons indigenous to communities now forming part of Nigeria.  The bill was sponsored by Hon. El-Sudi Ibrahim Tukur.  The Committee felt that the bill has been covered by the provisions of Clause 5 of the Bill that was voted on in July which dealt with citizenship/indigenship issue.

4.    A Bill for an Act to provide for National Social Integration of the country sponsored by Hon. Peter Biye Gumtha.  The bill seeks to make citizenship and residency the basis for political and electoral consideration in the country.  This has been covered by the provision of the earlier Report which conferred citizenship of a State in Nigeria on anybody who has resided in that State for a continuous period of ten years. This was incorporated in the voting to alter Chapter 3 of the Constitution on Citizenship done on July 25, 2013.

5.    Alteration of Section 56 of the Constitution to guarantee freedom of speech and legislative actions of Members of the National Assembly.  The Bill was sponsored by Hon. Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe.

It received endorsement of the Public Hearing.  The Committee felt that the first segment of the bill had been covered by an earlier bill sponsored by Hon. Ali Ahmad which had been incorporated into the Bill to be presented to the House.  The Committee reasoned that the second segment seeking to insulate the presiding officers from civil or criminal proceeding for carrying out the resolutions of a House will amount to a derogation of the powers of the Courts to undertake judicial review of legislative action guaranteed by Section 6 of the Constitution.

6.    Alteration of Section 67 to secure compulsory attendance of the President to deliver a State of the Nation Address to a joint sitting of the National Assembly.  This will operate under an Act of the National Assembly. It was sponsored by Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and Hon. Christopher S. Eta.  It received endorsement at the Public Hearing and has been incorporated into the Bill to be presented to the House.

7.    Alteration of Section 81(3) of the Constitution to include the National Security Agencies and the Nigerian Police in the first line charge of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.  It was sponsored by Hon. Samson Osagie and was endorsed at the Public Hearing. It has been incorporated in the Bill to be presented to the House.

8.    Alteration of Section 85 and 125 of the Constitution to ensure accountability and transparency in the management of the finances of all statutory corporations, commissions, authorities, agencies, including all persons and bodies established by Acts of the National Assembly or Laws of a State House of Assembly and to further enhance the efficiency of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation or of a State.  It requires the Auditor-General to carry out an audit of the bodies and submit Reports to either the National Assembly or a State House of Assembly.  It was sponsored by Hon. Ifeoluwa A. Arowosoge.  The Committee felt that the main essence of the bill had been covered by the earlier voting which placed the Office of the Auditor-General on the first line charge of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation which will guarantee both financial and administrative autonomy to the Office.

9.    Alteration of Section 89 to include directly in the Constitution the Sergeant-at-Arms of a Legislative House among persons to execute a warrant issued by a Legislative House or Committee thereof. The bill was sponsored by Hon. Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe.  It received endorsement at the Public Hearing and has been incorporated in the Bill to be presented to the House.

10.    Alteration of Section 143 of the Constitution to remove ambiguities in the process of impeachment and removal of a President and Vice-President from Office on allegations of gross misconduct and to provide for a more transparent and democratic procedure for impeachment and removal of the holder of the offices.

         The bill was sponsored by Hon. Yakubu Dogara and 3 others.

The Bill was taken at the Public Hearing held on Wednesday December 4, 2013 where it received endorsement and has been incorporated into the Bill to be presented to the House.

11.    Alteration of Sections 241 and 242 to provide for a right of appeal from the National Industrial Court to the Court of Appeal.  It was sponsored by Hon. Friday Itulah.  The bill did not receive endorsement at the Public Hearing as S.242 (3) of the Third Alteration Act of 2010 has taken care of this. The National Assembly can by law make provisions for Appeals as of Right.

12.    Alteration of Sections 277 and 282 to vest original jurisdiction on chieftaincy matters on Sharia Court of Appeal and Customary Court of Appeal of a State.  The bill was sponsored by Hon. Leo Ogor. The bill did not receive endorsement at the Public Hearing; as a result of which the Committee advised that the existing provision of the Constitution be maintained.

13.    Alteration of Section 285 of the Constitution to allow  that a period of an intervening event (natural or circumstantial) or force majeure shall not be counted in the computation of  180 days or 60 days during which a tribunal or Court of Appeal shall deliver judgment.  The bill was endorsed at the Public Hearing and has been incorporated into the Bill to be presented to the House.

14.    Alteration of Section 292 and the 3rd Schedule to the Constitution to clarify the powers of the National Judicial Council over the suspension, punishment, reinstatement and discipline of judicial officers.  It was sponsored by Hon. Sunday Karimi Steve.

The Bill received endorsement during the Public Hearing and has been incorporated into the Bill to be presented to the House.

15    Amendment of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Act to provide for financial contribution from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to enable the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps carry out its functions.  It was sponsored by Hon. Robinson Uwak. 

The Bill was primarily referred to the Committees on Interior and Justice, and also the Constitution Review Committee, in the event that there is any aspect of the matter that requires an amendment of the Constitution. The Committee is of the view that no constitutional alteration question arose.

16.    Amendment of the National Youth Service Corps Act, Cap N84 LFN, 2004 to make it mandatory for the Service Corps to provide life insurance policy for Corp Members.  This became a Constitution amendment issue because of the provisions of S. 315(8) of the Constitution that entrenched the NYSC Act as part of the Constitution. It was sponsored by Hon. Faleke James Abiodun.  The Bill received endorsement at the Public Hearing and has been incorporated into the Bill to be presented to the House.

17.    Amendment of Sections 68(i)(e) and 109(i)(e) of the Constitution has been proposed to make it possible for legislators to belong to parliamentary or similar bodies without losing their seats.

18.    Honourable Colleagues, this is a synopsis of the proposed amendments which the Ad-Hoc Committee on Constitution Review recommends for your consideration.

 

Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, CON

Deputy Speaker/Chairman, 

Ad-Hoc Committee on the Review of the Constitution.