Chidi Samuel || The speakers of the houses of assembly have approved for the introduction of devolution of powers in the next round of constitution amendment and condemned to the national assembly over their failure to pass the measure in the current process.
They have, therefore, appealed to the federal lawmakers to reconsider their decision on the issue.
It will be recalled that the Senate failed to approve the devolution proposal in 2017.
Abdulmumin Kamba, the chairman of the speakers of houses of assembly conveyed the position of state assemblies on Thursday when they visited the national assembly.
The state lawmakers were at the national assembly to return the voting by states houses of assembly on the constitution amendment bill transmitted to them for assent by the national assembly.
Kamba said, “The procedure of amending the constitution has more to do with the legislative than the executive.”
“The devolution of power was part of the amendment which has been seriously condemned, it’s our hope that we bring back the devolution of powers.”
The state assemblies, however, rejected autonomy for local government.
In his response, the speaker of the House of representative, Yakubu Dogara expressed disappointment over the decision of state lawmakers to vote down autonomy to local government.
He, however, noted that all hope is not lost as they can still decide to give their approval when the national assembly presents it again in the future.
Dogara said, “I must commend you for deciding that the legislature in states should be independent. However, this is not an expression of the opinion of the National Assembly, I want to appropriate this as my personal opinion.”
“I can say that I am disappointed because I thought that the courage demonstrated by these highly skilled legislators, some of whom are seated before us, would have delivered the long awaited local government autonomy, but unfortunately, maybe our courage didn’t go that far.
“But you see, courage isn’t really the absence of fear, but it is acting in spite of your fears and if it was not because of men and women of courage, I tell you that the democracy itself that we experience now wouldn’t have been possible. When William Wilberforce said slaves must be free, he belonged to the party, majority of whom, were slave owners and on account of that, a revolution started.”
Clauses approved by the state houses of Assembly include reduction of period for extra budgetary expenditure by the execvutive from six to three months , legislative immunity for lawmakers, new regulations governing conducts of bye elections by INEC, removal of the word “Force” from Nigeria Police, limiting the tenure of presidents and governors to eight years by not taking oath of office more than twice, reduction in age for elective offices, stipulation of date for budget presentation by the president, inclusion of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps in the constitution among others.
Constitution amendments can only be effective if it is passed by at least 24 state houses of assembly and two-thirds of the national assembly.