Power devolution, electoral reform key to re-building Nigeria — LP
The Deputy National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Dr Ayo Olorunfemi, says the ongoing process of constitution amendment would not made much meaning if it ignores restructuring and electoral reforms.
Olorunfemi, a former General Secretary, Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporation and Government Owned Companies (SASGOC) saif in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.
“We call ourselves a Federal Republic of Nigeria but we are doing something else and not practising that federalism.
“As a Federal Republic, every state should have its own independence and autonomy, including having control over security at the state level.
“We need true federalism and restructuring. This is the very important and should be considered in the ongoing process.
“Second to this is the electoral review. What we have now contains a lot of gaps and these encourage manipulation of elections by desperate politicians,” Olorunfemi said.
According to him, except the National Assembly reform the electoral and deliver restructuring ,the country will still be struggling to survive.
“We must deploy more technology to make our elections better. We need live transmit of election result in real time.
“This is help out democracy and put the nation on path to development,” he added.
He added that instead of INEC deploying huge funds to produce Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) each election year, the country could work on the National Identity Cards, improve on it with more security features and use same for elections.
“We should use technology. Technology will solve the problem of votes not counting. Let us deploy proper and tested technology,” he said.
On the issues around creation of state police, the labour leader said that was overdue.
On immunity clause for President and governors, Olorunfemi said that if immunity was removed every public officers would sit up, knowing they could be touched.
NAN reports that the 10th National Assembly has begun the process of amendment of the 1999 Constitution.
The Senate had, in February , constituted a 45-member Constitution Review Committee,headed by the Deputy Senate President , Sen.Jibrin Barau.
Senate President, Sen.Godwill Akpabio,while inaugurating members of the committee in Abuja, said the review of the constitution had become imperative “in order to put certain things right”
Also, the House of Representatives has inaugurated its constitutional review committee for the amendment of the 1999 Nigerian constitution as amended.
The Speaker, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, while inaugurating the committee, said that the step marked another significant moment in the democratic journey towards a more ‘perfect union’.
He said that it was expected that the sixth alteration under the tenth National Assembly would be the most comprehensive
Areas listed for possible consideration in the amendment include creation of state police, local government autonomy,and reform of the electoral system. (NAN)
