1999 CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT UNDERGOES PUBLIC HEARING IN OWERRI
•AS REVIEW CAPTURES 17-POINT AGENDA
•IMO SPEAKER, LAWMAKERS REACT
The amendment of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has passed through its public hearing, in Owerri, the Eastern part of Nigeria.
The opening ceremony for the public hearing held yesterday for the South East zone which comprised Imo and Abia States.
In his opening remark, the Chairman, Senate Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege disclosed that for the citizens input, the review is holding across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
Senator Ovie Omo-Agege said that the topical issues to be incorporated and amended are issues bordering on Judicial and Electoral Reforms, Local Government Autonomy, and devolution of powers.
He added that these items when finally amended in the constitution would set a sound democracy for Nigeria.
“Let me also remind our fellow patriots, countrymen and women, that a Constitution Review represents a critical phase in our development and advancement as a nation. So far, we have had over two decades of constitutional rule, under the 1999 Constitution. This is an important feat, and we commend ourselves as a country, even if we are not where we aspire to be”.
“Indeed, this ongoing review provides a platform for the good people of Nigeria to express their opinions on the fundamental law that governs our lives through proposals that will lead to the highest good for the greatest number of our people. No doubt, we are going to have diverse and differing views on the different themes of the exercise. However, the focus for this Committee is how to manage the review exercise in a fair, inclusive, credible, and transparent manner. Public Hearings are critical to participatory democracy and indispensable in a Constitution amendment exercise if the Constitution is to be seen as the people’s Constitution. These Zonal Public Hearings have been designed in such a manner as to give citizens greater opportunities to make inputs more than ever before in the Constitution amendment process”. Senator Omo-Agege asserted.
In his address, Governor Hope Uzodinma recalled that for some time, there have been agitation for the review, as inherited in 1999 from the military regime.
Uzodinma said the aim is to address the yearning of Nigerians in areas that would better the lives of all and sundry.
Imo Governor asked that all those critical issues which have been bothering the public be accommodated.
The Speaker Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Paul Emeziem, who spoke on behalf of Imo Lawmakers commended the upper Legislature (Senate) for the vision and mission, assuring that Imo State would give their support where necessary.
One of the State based Legislators and Member representing Isu State Constituency in IMHA, Rt. Hon Ngozi Obiefule suggested that the exercise be followed to the letter and not treated with less concern.
On gender equality, she maintained that the 35% women affirmation in politics be fully included and functional.
Meanwhile, other salient issues for the public hearing according to the Constitution review committee include;
Gender equity/increased participation of women and vulnerable groups in
governance, the Federal structure in governance and power devolution, Local Government Administration/Local Government autonomy, public revenue, fiscal federalism and revenue allocation, constitutional provision for the establishment of State Police, Judicial Reform – adjudication of election and pre-election matters and other
justice delivery concerns.
To be reviewed also are; Electoral reforms that will make INEC deliver transparent, credible, free and fair elections, political parties, Independent candidature and election management, Socio-economic rights as contained in Chapel ll of the Constitution, residency and indigeneship, immunity – removal of immunity in prima facia criminal cases, time-line for assent of bills and passage of appropriation bill.
Also to be altered in the constitution are; States and local government creation, strengthening the independence of institutions like the office of the Accountant General of the Federal, Auditor General of the Federation and Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, F.C.T. administration, the legislature and legislative bureaucracy, Constitutional roles for traditional rulers, and, any other issues that will promote the unity and good governance of the Nigeria nation.
EX IMHA SPEAKER, ACHO IHIM SHINES, BAGS DOCTORATE DEGREE
Immediate past Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly,(8th House), Rt. Hon. Acho Ihim has added an academic feather to his titles.
Rt. Hon Ihim on Monday, May 24, 2021 successfully completed and defended his Doctorate Degree (PhD) in History and International Relations, from the prestigious Imo State University Owerri, IMSU.
This was in further pursuit for his academic excellence, hence, a PhD holder.
Speaker Ihim was a two-time House member that represented Okigwe State Constituency at the hallowed chambers of the State Legislature.
While as a Speaker, he was elected the first Nigerian to head the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Africa region (comprising of over fifty-four nations). A position he held sway devotedly till the end of his tenure.
Assembly Vibes gathered that the cerebral Legislator scaled excellently with his PhD defence, which raised his bar of acceptance as a dignified “Academic Doctor”.
“Onwa Okigwe”, as fondly called is happily married to his adorable wife, and their marriage is blessed with children.
Recall that Rt. Hon. Acho Ihim was a contestant at the just concluded Okigwe Senatorial election.
Pix caption: Rt. Hon Acho Ihim (L) having a congratulatory handshake with his Faculty Dean, Prof. Martin Nwankwo after his successful PhD defence on Monday.
IMO ASSEMBLY MAY RESUME PLENARY SESSION TUESDAY, AS PASAN CALLS OFF STRIKE
Indications are rife that Legislative activities of the Imo State House of Assembly may resume coming week Tuesday, following the agreement signed by the State Governors, Judicial and members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, recently.
Recall that PASAN had been on strike action for the past two months, over the non implementation of their financial autonomy.
However, having signed a memorandum of understanding with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, Assembly workers are expected to resume work coming week.
Although Imo lawmakers have been meeting secretly and approving bills and nomination lists for the State Governor, they have no impediments of resuming for official business, starting from Tuesday.
Documents obtained by Trumpeta Assembly Vibes revealed that the deal was
brokered by the committee on the implementation of financial autonomy for the State legislature and Judiciary arms of government.
Chris Ngige said, “At the end of the tortuous journey we had undertaken this evening , we have signed an agreement, not a Memorandum of Action as such but a framework for each of the State governments to grant autonomy to their State Legislature and Judiciary. As I said earlier the governors have studied this document and they are in agreement with it;
“So by Monday or Tuesday, we are going to trigger off the section B and D which says governments of the respective States shall credit the accounts of the legislative and Judicial arms or government with a pro-rata amounts due to each arms of government under the 2021 appropriation law,” he said.
Among the signatories to the document are: Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the Sokoto state governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (for the governors); and the representatives of the unions, including Ngige who signed as a witness to the agreement.
According to the document containing agreement obtained, all states are required to pass and assent to the Funds Management Law and the state House of Assembly Service Commission Law as well as put in place implementation structures within a time-frame not exceeding 45 days from the date of signing the document.
With the recent development therefore, all offices and chairs at the Imo House of Assembly would be dusted this weekend to enable for smooth legislative resumption.
