Constitution Review: S/West speakers seek laws to address boundary disputes
By Adeyemi Adeleye
The Conference of Speakers of State Assemblies, South-West Zone, has called on the National Assembly to enact strong laws to address boundary disputes in the country.
The Chairman of the conference in the zone, Mr Adeoye Aribasoye, made the call while speaking at the Day 2 of the South-West Zonal Public Hearing on the Review of the 1999 Constitution in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Senate Committee on the Constitution Review on Friday and Saturday conducted public hearings on requests for the review of the constitution across the geo-political zones.
Aribasoye said the ongoing constitution review should be used as an opportunity to address conflicts arising from boundary disputes.
“It is not good that we fight ourselves over issues of boundaries. Yoruba people should not be fighting themselves over boundaries.
“The bulk of this problem lies with the National Boundary Commission.
“Help us look into this in the South-West to resolve it so that we won’t be fighting ourselves all the time.
“We plead that at your end to look into it. We seek laws that will address the problem once and for all,” Aribasoye said.
The chairman also called for creation of state police to address the security challenges in the country.
He said that the internal security mechanism put in place by South-West governors, codenamed “Amotekun” was part of the zone’s efforts to tackle insecurity.
Aribasoye also called for the creation of more states to bring government closer to the people and promote inclusiveness and participation in governance.
“Hence, the proposal for the state creation already submitted to the 10th National Assembly should be speedily considered and approved this time around,” he said.
Speaking on issues bothering the state legislature, Aribasoye, said that the recurrent arbitrary removal of presiding officers should be stopped through legislative provisions.
“This is rampant at the state assemblies, and what we are saying is that the provision for the removal of presiding officers is too vague in the constitution, I think there should be conditions to be prescribed.
“Fortunately enough, in our rules and standing orders in the South-West, we have actually worked on that.
“We will make this available to the committee (Senate) to see if what we have could be adopted so that arbitrary removal of officers will be, at least, minimised. There should be procedures just like we made it for governors,” he said.
Aribasoye, the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, also raised concern on proclamation of the assembly and inauguration of elected lawmakers.
According to him, cases abound of state governors refusing to inaugurate opposition lawmakers over ridiculous reasons.
“At the conference, we are thinking that instead of the governor being the one doing the proclamation of the assembly, the clerk of the house should be empowered to do it by the constitution.
“It should be made mandatory that once a person is elected, under no condition should such a person be denied inauguration in the house,” he said.
Responding, Sen. Jubrin Barau, the Deputy Senate President and Chairman of the Senate Constitution Review Committee, said the constitution is explicit on how the assembly should regulate its proceedings.
Barau, who was represented by his Vice Chairman and Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, said that Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) stated that the National Assembly shall regulate its proceedings.
“It is on the basis of that that we have rules for ourselves, including rules that border on removal of presiding officers.
“There is an equivalent provision. Section 101 of the constitution also states that the State House of Assembly shall regulate its own proceedings. If there is anything we need to amend, it is our rules, house rules, rather than the constitution.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that several organisations including youth, students and women groups, made presentations at the public hearing. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Buhari Bolaji
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