Constitutional Review Forum: Stakeholders Seek LG Autonomy

Stakeholders who participated in last weekend’s constitutional review forum in Eleme, Tai, Oyigbo Federal Constituency, have advocated for the autonomy of the local government councils.

Besides, they also sought for a single tenureship for the president and governors and the need to create more states among the 43 items that topped the agenda of the forum held in the 360 federal constituencies across the country.

Making their views public, a voice vote was taken after heated debate ensued at the forum held at the Multipurpose Hall, Ogale, but majority stood behind independence of local councils, five year tenureship for governors and president and state creation.

The Eleme ethnic nationality specifically advocated review of the Land Use Act, creation of State Police and rotation of governorship based on senatorial districts.

Member representing Tai, Oyigbo and Eleme Federal Constituency, Hon. Barry Mpigi assured that the exercise was not a jamboree but would provide platform for the National Assembly to review the constitution.

Papers were presented by organisations and agencies. They included the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Local Government Employees, and Civil Society groups.

He said, “our present constitution, the 1999 amended in 2010 is a creation of the transition to civil rule and we all know that it does not meet with the aspirations of the people hence the clamour for a change or review to accommodate the views and aspirations of all as well as to give room for a peaceful co-existence for sustainable socio-economic development of our country, Nigeria”.

In his goodwill message, Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Magnus Abe stressed that the present National Assembly embarked on the exercise to ensure fairness, equity and good governance.

Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Hon. Oji Ngofa further buttressed the views of the Eleme people, “as a people we want to support this process that is being embarked upon by the Federal House of Representatives and we affirm our support for the review of our constitution in such a way that we support our federation”.

Chairman of the occasion and former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Marcus Nle- Eji thanked the National Assembly for taking the bold step in seeking to review the constitution through wide consultations across the country.