News
S’East, S’South Seek Restructuring, Fiscal Federalism
The coalition of critical stakeholders under the auspices of South-East South-South Network (SESSNet), has called for urgent restructuring of the country on the basis of fiscal federalism.
At its first one-day international conference held in Owerri, Imo State, recently, the group insisted that all elected officials from Abia, Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Akwa-Ibom, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross-River and Delta, should urgently champion legislative measures to entrench fiscal federalism in line with constitutional requirements.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the conference, the network resolved to forge an economic/social integration between the South-East and South-South states to hasten economic development within the region, focusing on and advancing specific areas of comparative advantage and interest.
The conference regretted that prolonged military interventions in the polity has stifled democratic development of the country, and therefore, urged the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency; seek avenues to return Nigeria to true federalism.
The delegates also resolved to champion a thorough amendment of the Nigerian Constitution to strengthen true federalism in which each region would exercise the right to self-determination, noting that over centralisation of the economic and political powers at the centre has over the years crippled the initiatives for growth and development by the federating units.
According to the conference, the amended Constitution will allow each of the federating units to draft its constitution that will outline its means of development within its own available resources and other logistics.
The delegates further resolved that each federating state should be allowed 100% control of her natural resource endowment, while royalty would be contributed to the Federal Government at the centre, adding that it will encourage states become creative, industrious and would actually deeply change our political system.
The conference canvassed a clear-cut approach by the Federal Government to separate all local government from the strong grips of the states as spelt out in the Nigerian Constitution, and noted that the muzzling of local authorities by state governments has deprived the local populace of democratic dividends.
Against this background, it stressed amendment of the constitution so that that security, primary education, water, development of infrastructure, healthcare delivery, trade and commerce, manpower development, among others, should be left to the states so as to promote development at the grassroots.
It also advocated that states should be granted the exclusive right to build railways, refineries, and generate their electricity, just as it argued that states should enjoy the right to issue licenses for exploration of mineral resources located within their territories with a workable agreement on sharing proceeds with the Federal Government.
The conference urged the Houses of Assembly in the South-East and South-South to liaise with the National Assembly in working out modalities for amending the Constitution to restructure and strengthen the federation, anchored on power devolution to the federating units.
The delegates advised the electorate in the two zones that only tested, and vision-driven individuals who imbibe the above principles will henceforth be allowed to taste leadership at all levels in the region, to encourage a new generation of young leaders to emerge at the elective positions in the zones and the centre.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.