The Joint Committee of National Assembly working on the alteration of the 1999 Constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria has said 25 state houses of assembly has refused to work on the 44 clauses sent to them unless four items not included in the alterations, which includes creation of state police is included in the alteration.
Addressing a press conference at the senate on Tuesday, 18th of October, Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo Agege, who is a co-chair of the joint constitution review committee said only 11 states out of the 36 states of the federation have demonstrated willingness to alter the constitution, while the remaining states have refused to vote, describing their action as holing the process hostage, adding that if they are not satisfied with those provisions, it is their rights to vote them out.
According to Deputy Senate President, six months after the transmission of the state houses of assembly it is most sadden that only 11 state houses of assembly have demonstrated their loyalty to the Constitution, 25 state house of assembly are yet to consider and vote on these bills, so far only Abia, Akwa- Ibom, Anambra, Delta, Edo, Kaduna, Katsina, Kogi Lagos, Ogun and Osun state have successfully considered, voted and forwarded their resolutions to the National assembly.
More worrisome is that the National Assembly received letter from conference of Speakers of state Assemblies that the remaining states will not act unless the National Assembly passed four bills which they put in the letter, they include a bill to establish state police, a bill to establish state judicial council, a bill to streamline the procedure of removing presiding officers of the state houses of assembly and a bill to institutionalize legislative bureaucracy in the Constitution.
Senator Omo Agege said National Assembly is not averse to the four bills but it is a constitutional matter that does not require such position, the deputy senate President said the letter is a byproduct of some state governors, which he described as *Voice Jacob, Hand of Saul*, this he said has continued to undermine the independence of state legislature.
He appeal to citizens and civil society organisations to prevail on the conference of speakers to avoid truncating constitution of the country.
NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, condemned the act of the states legislature and their governors for abuse of power, stressing that on local government autonomy the NLC stands, he added, everything that can promote good governance and independence of all arms of government is what they will support, Ayuba Wabba said “is even good we have this information”.
For President of NULGE Ambali Akeem Olatunji said the state governors were thoroughly engaged. NULGE President said they were in Ibadan and Governor Makinde represented the interest of the state governors, where they argued the independence of the local government.
He berated the idea of state governors, as he vowed that the labour union will mobilise members to vote out whoever does not support local government autonomy.
Deputy Senate President expressed optimism that the process will end well, he said all support and assurances were given to the Speakers of the state houses of Assembly to convince them on the imperative of some clauses in the alternations, but regrettably, he said some of the speaker are weak to do what is appropriate, bowing to the whims and capris of their governors.