Constitutional Review: Women Inclusion, Economic Reforms, Local Government Autonomy, State Policing Takes Centre Stage, As House of Reps Receives Report From Various Groups

The national assembly has been urged to consider strategic economic transformation roadmaps, state policing, and women inclusion in politics as critical flashpoints of the constitution review exercise.

Consultants to the House of Representatives Committee on constitution review while presenting the harmonized reports from the 305 memoranda submitted to the house by Nigerians spotlighted issues bordering on economic growth and political leadership of the nation.

The report explained the imperativeness of social and economic laws that will enhance the welfare of Nigerians and reposition the nation for positive development.

Presenting the report to the committee, the Consultant on Election Matters, Dr. Samson Osagie highlighted the independence of oversight institutions and agencies, consideration of state policing, providing seat reservation for women in the national and state assemblies, indigenship, citizenship, provision for advisory role of traditional rulers, local government autonomy among others as issues for consideration.

Similarly, the Director of Research and Development of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Dr. Olusegun Omisakin revealed that the nation’s economy is dominated by the nonproductive sector, which represents 50 percent of the population, leading to the collapse of infrastructure and social sectors.

Omisakin proposed stabilization, consolidation, and acceleration as economic roadmaps that would facilitate growth and boost economic transformation.

Also speaking, the Deputy House Leader, RT. Hon. Abdullahi Halims attributed the nation’s economic downturn to insecurity and called for a constitutional provision for the prohibition of open grazing by the National Assembly.

In the same vein, the Vice Chairman House Committee on Constitution Review, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere stated that faulty political structures and systems that produce leaders of the nation contribute significantly to the current social and economic realities of the country.

In a remark, the Chairman Conference of State Speakers, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, while emphasizing key areas of interest, expressed optimism in the collaborative efforts of the states and national assemblies in actualising the objective of the review exercise.

The Governor of Akwa Ibom state, His Excellency Pastor Umo Eno, represented by his deputy, Sen. Akon Eyakenyi lamented the lack of willingness by Nigerians to accept the constitution as the people’s document, and assured the committee of his support in achieving its set goals.

Earlier in an address, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman Committee on constitution review, RT. Hon. Benjamin Kalu assured Nigerians that the constitution review will enhance economic outcomes by modernizing legal frameworks, increasing institutional capacity, addressing emerging economic challenges, as well as facilitate the inclusive development of the nation

In a goodwill message, Nigeria’s Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, urged the participants to ensure that the outcome of the exercise reflects the diverse perspective as well as the voice of the Nigerians

Other dignitaries present were Speaker of Guinea Bissau, Domingos Pereira, and Senator Saliu Mustapha of Kwara state, Senator Amos Yohanna of Adamawa, and Senator Diket Plang of Plateau state, Speaker Akwa Ibom state assembly, Hon. Udeme Otong, consultants, among other notable personalities.