Degema / Bonny Constituency Wants True Federalism, 50% Resources

The people of Degema / Bonny Federal Constituency in last weekend’s House of Representatives peoples’ public session on the Review of the 1999 Constitution were overwhelmingly unanimous in their call for a true federalism in Nigeria.

During the session, the Peoples’ voice vote on the item on a federalism that allows states to control up to 50% of their resources and pay the remainder to the federation attracted such re-echo that left no one in doubt regarding their decision.

Other items out of the 43 tentative templates for voting on key issues at the public session include non-definition of the constitution on indigenship based on long period of residing in an area, and amendment of Section 308 of the Constitution to make the immunity of the President, his Vice, Governor and his Deputy to cover only civil proceedings.

The session was also unanimous  on granting states Houses of Assembly financial autonomy / independence, according of Local Government Areas a third – tier government status, and the abolition of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC).

Also, the aspect of the constitution relating to the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy in chapter 11, which deals with political, economic, social, education and cultural objectives was agreed to be made justiceable like the fundamental human rights in chapter IV.

The constituency unanimously opposed such items as the establishment of a state police, rotation of the presidency between the Northern and Southern parts of the country, and inclusion of the six geo-political zones as third-tier of government.

Chairmaned  by Professor Samuel Abbey and facilitated by the House of Reps member representing the constituency, Hon. Sokonte H. Davies, the session had in attendance representatives of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Also represented were ASUU, NUT, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), NANS and NULGE.