Issues such as the tenure of political office holders, power rotation, anti-graft agencies and minorities rights will top the agenda of the Constitution Conference Review Committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan.SATURDAY PUNCH investigations during the week in Abuja showed that the issues were among the key recommendations of the 1994/95 National Conference and the 2006 Political Reform Conference.The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, had in a statement on October 22, 2011, said the committee, headed by a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Alfa Belgore, should study the recommendations of the two conferences.He stated that the committee should identify the constitutional, political, economic, social and other governance issues agreed upon in the conferences but which were not implemented.It will deliberate upon the currency and relevance of the issues identified above; and draft bills for the consideration of the National Assembly in respect of the issues identified above.The first of the two conferencesthe 1994/95 National Constitutional Conference (during the late Gen. Sani Abacha regime)sat between June 26, 1994 and June 26, 1995.Most of its recommendations were never implemented partly because of Abachas self-succession plan and his death on June 8, 1998.The recommendations of the committee headed by a former Vice-President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, included the division of the country into six geo-political zones: North-West; North-East; North-Central, South-South; South-West and South-East.Besides the offices of the President, the vice-president and ministers, the Ekwueme-led committee also called for the creation of the offices of Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.It suggested a single five-year term for governors and that the offices of governor, deputy governor and speaker of the House of Assembly should be rotated among the three senatorial districts in the state.The committee recommended a five-year term for the President, in addition to the suggestion that the office and those of the Vice-President; the Prime Minister; the Deputy Prime Minister; the President of the Senate; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives should be rotated among the six geo-political zones.he recommendations of the 2005 conference touched on the devolution of power from the Federal Government to states; strengthening of anti-graft agencies and open declaration of assets.Our correspondents learnt that Jonathan preferred revisiting the reports of the conferences to setting up new ones because their recommendations were still relevant.For example, a special court for corruption cases, which the SUNDAY PUNCH, had on October 30, 2011 reported that the Federal Government had begun moves to set up, was one of the recommendations of the 2005 NPRC.The conference had recommended, A court which is solely specialised and dedicated to the speedy trial of offenders prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission should be set up.It was learnt that because of the persistent calls for true federalism, the 2005 conferences suggestion on the devolution of power caught the attention of the President.There is the urgent need for the establishment of a balanced federation in which the powers of the Federal Government will be limited to what should obtain in a true federation. Power must be devolved to the states to facilitate rural development and stem the rural-urban drift, the committee had recommended.Besides the anti-graft court, it was learnt that the FG felt that other recommendations of the conference would strengthen the war against corruption.A source in the Presidency stated that the recommendations, which the government was interested in included:That anti-corruption agencies must be made to be truly independent. The appointment of members should, therefore, be made by a committee comprising an equal number from the parties in the national or state Houses of Assembly, and individuals from the academia, relevant civil society organisations such as Transparency International, human rights organisations. The funding of the anti-corruption agencies should come from the consolidated account.Investigations showed that in line with the governments position, the recommendation on the Federal Character Commission would be considered.It suggested, The setting up Equal Opportunities Commission to replace the Federal Character Commissionso that geography, ethnicity, gender and disability are reflected in representation.It was learnt that the committee would be asked to consider the issue of state creation, which would be based on the viability criterion as recommended by the 2005 conference.The conference had agreed that the South-East, being the only zone with five states, should be given an additional state. The North-West has seven states; North-Central, North-East, South-West, and South-South have six states each.Investigations showed that the committee would be guided by the need to ensure political stability, eliminate the power of incumbency and its abuse to the electoral process.One of the members of the Belgore committee, who pleaded anonymity, said the group would begin work after the Sallah holidays.He said, Obviously, single term will be on the agenda of the committee. I think that arrangement is okay and it will work for this country. What I dont support is the idea of rotation. Nigerians should be allowed to elect their own President.I think the election of (Goodluck) Jonathan has shown in clear terms that Nigerians have the capacity to elect their leaders. They can elect their President.We dont need to restrict the president to a zone; when the election is free and fair, you will be shocked that Nigerians will go for those they want to elect.The President, had in a statement on June 25, 2011, by his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, unfolded his plan to submit a bill on single term for the President and governors to the National Assembly.Abati said that the plan was born out of a patriotic zeal, after a painstaking study and belief that the constitutionally guaranteed two terms for the President and governors is not helping the focus of governance and institutionalisation of democracy at this stage of our development. A longer term for lawmakers would also help to stabilise the polity.President Jonathan is concerned about the acrimony, which the issue of re-election, every four years, generates both at the federal and state levels. The nation is still smarting from the unrest, the desperation for power and the overheating of the polity that have all attended each general election, the fallout of all this is the unending inter and intra-party squabbles which have affected the growth of party democracy in the country, and have further undermined the countrys developmental aspirations.
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