Lagos – Some politicians and activists have urged the special 50-member ad hoc committee on the review of 1999 Constitution to amend the clauses on immunity and local government autonomy.
They gave the advice in separate interviews with newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday.
It will be recalled that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, on Jan. 21, inaugurated a special 50-member ad hoc committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution.
At the inaugural ceremony, Dogara charged the committee members not to begin a fresh process, but to continue from where the 7th Assembly stopped in order to save cost.
While pointing out that the jurisdiction and mandate of the constitution review committee was a straight forward one, the speaker listed the tasks to include: work on the 4th Alteration Bill started by the 7th Assembly; to process all other proposals for further alteration of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as may be necessary on behalf of the House of Representatives, or as referred to it by the House.
Speaking with NAN, Mr Ayodele Akele, the National Secretary, National Conscience Party (NCP), urged the lawmakers to expunge the immunity clause from the constitution.
“Number one that must go is the immunity clause that cannot make you to challenge the governors (and) the president on anything they do while in the office.
“It has been subjected to a lot of abuse.
“So, first and foremost that immunity clause must go if this (National) Assembly wants to do something that is worthy of acceptability.’’
Akele also spoke of the need for the constitution to grant autonomy to the local governments in the country to empower them to grow and function in a manner that will guarantee grassroots development.
“The local government must be entirely removed from the state governments just the same way the state governments are independent of the Federal Government.
“Local government elections should not be conducted by the states; so, the real autonomy of the local government must be guaranteed.
“As it is today, it is being seriously abused and it is not allowing the growth of that important tier of government.
“It is being muzzled by the states and all their monies are being embezzled by the states; that is why there is no development at that level.’’
Contributing, Mr Toyin Raheem, the Executive Secretary, Campaign for Constitutionalism and Human Rights, urged the committee to consult civil society groups in order to have what he called “ a balanced review.”
“This committee should liaise seriously with the majority of the civil society people to ensure that they make serious inputs in whatever they are going to do.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is meant and expected to be done by the people of Nigeria.
“The situation that you have a group of people called the National Assembly and expecting them to do justice to the constitution is more or less a fallacy. ’’
Raheem called for a total overhaul of the 1999 Constitution, saying: “we need a constitution that will take care of every nationality in Nigeria.’’
Also speaking, the National Chairman, Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa, told NAN via email, that he expected a change at all levels.
“We want a change in the social, economic, and political systems controlling all developments in Nigeria, and the political leadership.
“We want a system based on public interest first and (then) enlightened interest.
“We want socialist reconstruction of Nigeria, starting with the leading role of the state of the economy to ensure peace, equality, justice, dignity of the human person and progressive even development of the whole country.’’
The 50-member panel, which is chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Yusuf Sulaimon Lasun, comprises all the nine principal officers of the House with one member each from the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, with special representatives for women.
The panel is expected to adopt a two-track approach in carrying out its assignment.
Firstly, it is expected to conclude the 4th Alteration Bill, which is pending, and secondly, it is expected to process all the other new Bills referred to it by members, including new proposals from the general public.
In its discussions and engagements, the panel is expected to have “no off limits except the very basis of the Constitution, which is the indivisibility of Nigeria“.
The panel is also expected to avoid the temptation of starting afresh considering that a lot of public funds were spent in processing the botched 4th Alteration Bill and the 7th Assembly worked very hard and extensively on the alteration bill.

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