|11th January, 2018| Ukorebi Esien
The Speaker, Cross River state House of Assembly Rt. Hon. John Gaul Lebo has said that the Cross River state House of Assembly and other state houses of Assembly in the federation as well as the National Assembly which makes up the legislative arm of government will continue to be rubber stamps in the hands of the executives if they are not granted financial autonomy. Thedailynews reports.
The speaker made this known in a town hall meeting/public hearing put together by the Cross River State House of Assembly on the Constitutional Amendment procedure by the National Assembly.
In his opening speech, the Lebo shed light on the 15 alterations that has been proposed by the National Assembly and he asked constituents present to feel free to air out their views on any matter as it boarders on the 15 items listed. while emphasizing on the 2nd alteration proposed by the National Assembly, Mr. Lebo said:
'This particular alteration is necessary because the legislative had always depended on the executive for funding and as such slowed several processes in the legislative arm. and at the end you people will say we are rubber stamp...We will continue to be rubber stamp if this alteration is not done.' Mr. Lebo concluded.
Speaking with journalist at the end of the event Lebo, said
'The purpose of this session is to clear our mind and then allow for imputes from our constituents on the various provisions on the 15 alterations as transmitted by the NAS neutralize our brain and allow our constituents give us their imputes.
And we are happy that what we have gotten from them is exactly what we are going to vote on the floor as we vote on each of the 15 items'
In his words:
'I think they will succeed because the autonomy of the Local Government is important to the extent that the Local Government is a tier of government and for is to function efficiently they need to be autonomous, they need to grow capacity for leadership and they need to grow the leadership structure over time. Beyond financial autonomy they also need to have autonomy for management.
Now if the House of Assembly is not autonomous it will not have the courage to legislate on the Local Government autonomy'
Now if the House of Assembly is not autonomous it will not have the courage to legislate on the Local Government autonomy'
The town hall meeting which was well attended had the entire 25 state constituencies of Crosss River state voting in affirmation to all the 15 alterations except for Akpabuyo state constituency who were indifferent with alteration 8 and 12 which states thus:
8. A bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to change the name Nigeria Police Force to ``Nigeria Police'' to reflect their core mandate of providing civil services; and for related matters.
12. A bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to reflect the establishment and core functions of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps; and other related matters.
Abi state constituency also voted a 'No' to Alteration 3 which has to do with local Government Autonomy. Also voting a 'No' was Boki 1 and Calabar South 1 state constituencies who said they were not in support of alteration 7 which has to do with independent candidature.
Also in the list of those who voted a 'No' is Yakkur 1 state Constituency. They voted 'No' to some items in the alteration list such as Alteration 2, 3 and 7.
The 15 Alterations which will need 25 out of the 36 States houses of Assembly in the Federation to give them a nod before they see the light of the day include the following:
CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, 1999 (FOURTH ALTERATION, NO. 2) ACT, 2017.
1. A bill for An act to alter the provision of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to reduce the period within which the President or the governor of a state may authorise the withdrawal of monies from the Consolidated Revenue Fund in the absence of an Appropriation Act from six months to three months; and other related matters.
CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, 1999 (FOURTH ALTERATION, NO 4) ACT, 2017.
2. A bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 for the funding of the Houses of Assembly of States directly from the Consolidated Fund of the State; and other matters related.
CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, 1999 (FOURTH ALTERATION, NO. 5) ACT, 2017.
3. A bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to abrogate the State Joint Local Government Accounts and empower each Local Government Council to maintain its own special account and make provisions from savings in the Federation Account before distribution to other levels of government; and for related matters.
CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, 1999 (FOURTH ALTERATION, NO. 6) ACT, 2017.
4. A bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to strengthen Local Government Administration in Nigeria; and for related matters.
CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, 1999 (FOURTH ALTERATION, NO. 8) ACT, 2017.
5. A bill for an Act to alter provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide immunity for members of the legislature in respect of words spoken or written at plenary sessions or committee proceedings and institutionalise legislative bureaucracy in the Constitution; and for related matters.
CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, 1999 (FOURTH ALTERATION, NO. 9) ACT, 2017.
6. A bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide the Independent National Electoral Commission with sufficient time to conduct bye-election and provide grounds for de-registration of political parties; and other related matters.
CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, 1999 (FOURTH ALTERATION, NO. 14) ACT, 2017.
7. A bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for Independent Candidature in elections; and for related matters.
CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, 1999 (FOURTH ALTERATION, NO. 15) ACT, 2017.
8. A bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to change the name Nigeria Police Force to ``Nigeria Police'' to reflect their core mandate of providing civil services; and for related matters.
CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, 1999 (FOURTH ALTERATION, NO. 16) ACT, 2017.
9. A bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to disqualify a person who was sworn-in as President or Governor to complete the term of the elected President or Governor from being elected to the same office for more than a single term; and other related matters.
CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, 1999 (FOURTH ALTERATION, NO. 20) ACT, 2017.
10 A bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to further strengthen the Judiciary for speedy dispensation of justice; and for related matters.
CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, 1999 (FOURTH ALTERATION, NO. 21) ACT, 2017.
11. A bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide time for the determination of pre-election matters; and for related matters.
CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, 1999 (FOURTH ALTERATION, NO. 22) ACT, 2017.
12. A bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to reflect the establishment and core functions of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps; and other related matters.
CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, 1999 (FOURTH ALTERATION, NO. 24) ACT, 2017.
13. A bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for the procedure for passing a Constitution Alteration Bill where the President withholds assent; and for related matters.
CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, 1999 (FOURTH ALTERATION, NO. 27) ACT, 2017.
14. A bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to reduce the age for qualification for the office of the President, members of the House of Representatives and State House of Assembly; and for related matters.
CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, 1999 (FOURTH ALTERATION, NO. 28) ACT, 2017.
15. A bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to specify the Period within which the President or Governor of a state presents the Appropriation bill before the National Assembly or House of Assembly; and other related matters.
Addressing news men, The speaker Rt. Hon. John Gaul Lebo Expressed optimism that most of the items especially the Local Government Autonomy and the Autonomy of the State Houses of Assembly will see the light of the day.
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