The South-South zone of the people of Niger Delta have insisted on devolution of power, fiscal federalism and equitable revenue sharing formula to depict true federalism.
This was made known Thursday at a two- day South -South Public Hearing on 1999 Constitution Amendment being organised by the House of Representatives for Bayelsa, Edo and Delta holding in Asaba.
Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, who declared the occasion open, charged the committee to ensure that the recommendations were considered to reflect the yearnings and aspirations of the Nigeria people.
Represented by the Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Mr Sheriff Oborevwori, Okowa said ,”among the contentious issues of the proposed l review are fiscal federation, devolution of powers, state police, and local government creation.
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He said “after carefully considering all the salient attributes of a federal system as well as the historical antecedents relating to federalism as practiced in Nigeria, Delta government and its people are convinced that Nigeria should continue as a federation but with a proper federal structure,”
The governor proposed fiscal federalism for revenue accountability and discipline, state police to improve security, devolution of power and the review of the 13 per cent derivation formula to 50 per cent.
In his opening address, Chief Ndudi Elumelu, Minority Leader, House of Representatives and Chairman, House of Assembly Committee for South -South Public Hearing on 1999 Constitution Amendment, assured the people of effective representations.
Elumelu said that the convergence of the leaders and citizens from Bayelsa, Edo and Delta underscores the urgency and significance the people of the states and Nigerians attach to the exercise.
According to him,, “any constitution that does not guarantee the fulfilment of such aspirations, is to the extent of such shortcomings, defective, frustrating and cannot deliver benefits to the people.
“Instead, such constitutions breed discontentment dissonances, agitations, violence, restiveness, economic retardation and political frictions.
“The current 1999 Constitution as amended has been adjudged by many as being replete with grave defects which are inimical to and frustrating the practice of a federal system that most Nigerians desire.
“The solution lies in addressing such defects through statutory amendment to reflect the prevailing wishes, aspiration and demand of the people, and that is why we are gathered here today,” he said.
Attoney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Bayelsa,Mr Biriya Dambo said that the state insists on dissolution of power, full resources control, state police among others.
According to him, the state advocates for electoral reforms to ensure electronic voting, residency and indigene provisions and gender equity
Dambo said “Gender Equity is now regarded in most pats of the world as a human right and should be legally institutionalised by positive affirmation action enshrined in the constitution.
“We completely believe in the equality of women in society and believed that the participation, relevance and importance of women and other vulnerable groups in government, politics and leadership should not be at the benevolence of the President and the state governors”.
Presenting his state memoranda,Mr Marcus Onobun, Speaker, Edo House of Assembly, , said that among other recommendations, the constitution should provide for full citizenship for women.
He said the current constitution has all forms of discriminations against women adding that the review should consider gender balancing in appointment, politics and other institutions
On issue of inheritance,Onobun said “Every child is entitled to inheritance of the wealth of his or her parents”.
The lawmaker stated that state government should have power to determine the number and create local governments, own a state court of appeal.
He said that residency and not indigene should be recognised in the constitution for political and elective positions, adding that the immunity of the president and governors be retained as in the current constitution.
Others who submitted memoranda to the commitee include, representatives of traditional institutions, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), National Associations of Nigerian Students (NANS), Women Groups and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
