Reps suggest rotational presidency, six-year single time period
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A invoice in search of a single time period of six years for the President and state governors was introduced up on Monday by 35 members of the House of Representatives.
The invoice additionally canvasses the rotation of the presidency among the many six geopolitical zones of the nation.
The 35 legislators, beneath the auspices of Reformed-minded Legislators, mentioned the proposition would result in a discount in the price of governance.
Addressing a press convention on the National Assembly Complex on Monday, the spokesman for the group, Ikenga Ugochinyere, added that the transfer would unite the nation and guarantee a seamless transition and unprecedented growth for the nation.
Ugochinyere emphasised the necessity to interrogate the challenges going through the Nigerian state, saying, “We should not be afraid to meet and discuss our problems, challenges, fears, aspirations, and prospects as a people. We should not discuss in fear and we should never fear to discuss.”
Speaking on the invoice, Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato North/Idaeto South Federal Constituency of Imo State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, mentioned, “On governance, we’re proposing a constitutional alteration to supply for the rotation of government powers among the many six geopolitical zones to make sure equal illustration and scale back the desperation and tempo of agitation for the creation of states. We are proposing to amend Section 3 of the structure to supply for the popularity of the division of Nigeria into six geopolitical zones.
“And also, to amend the constitution to provide for a single tenure of six years for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the state governors. This will bring about a reduction in government spending and wastage; promote efficiency in governance, and national stability by providing a single term of six years for the President and the governors.”
The lawmakers drawn from totally different political events are additionally in search of amendments to the structure “to create the office of two Vice Presidents from the southern and northern parts of Nigeria.”
Ugochinyere defined that the First Vice President can be a succession vp, whereas the Second Vice President can be a minister answerable for the economic system, and each shall be ministers.
Ugochinyere mentioned the 35 lawmakers had been additionally pushing for a “constitutional amendment to provide that the President and the First Vice President shall come from the same part of the country (North or South) and the First Vice President shall become President whenever the President becomes incapacitated, that is, VP (succession), VP (Administration and Economy).”
The invoice additionally seeks monetary autonomy and accountability of native authorities councils by prescribing an unbiased Consolidated Local Government Council Account solely superintended by Local Councils. It prescribes long-term imprisonment for any misuse of native authorities funds.
“We are seeking an amendment to Section 162(5) of the 1999 Constitution to provide that where a state government fails to remit to the local government councils within its jurisdiction (or within the state), the amounts standing to the credit of that local government in the allocation from the Federation Account, such state government shall not be entitled to receive a future allocation from the Federal Government,” Ugochinyere added.
On electoral reforms, the group proposed amendments to the related sections of the Electoral Act to make sure “that all elections (presidential, governorship, National Assembly, state Houses of Assembly, and local Governments) are held on the same day.”
Ugochinyere mentioned, “We are pushing for amendments to related sections of the Electoral Act to supply that no declaration of a winner of an election shall be performed by the related Independent National Electoral Commission officers till such officer has in contrast the outcomes with the checklist of accredited voters and ensured that the outcomes to be declared are in tandem with the checklist of accredited voters and the B-VAS machine or every other digital system.
“Amend the Electoral Act to supply that any INEC officer who declares a false outcome will likely be responsible for civil and felony motion personally introduced in opposition to him by events within the elections.
“An modification to the Electoral Act to supply that every one election-related litigations have to be resolved and decided by the Elections Petitions Tribunal, Appeal Courts, and so forth earlier than the winners are sworn into the respective elective places of work.
“An modification to the Electoral Act to make provision for the conduct and conclusion of all elections and election-related litigation inside six months earlier than the swearing into workplace of the validly elected particular person for the workplace contested.
“An amendment to the Electoral Act to provide that all election-related documents and materials must be made available to those who participated in elections and who have reasons to question/petition the elections at the elections tribunal,” he added.
In his contribution, one of many 35 lawmakers and members representing Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency, Rivers State, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, mentioned, “These legal guidelines requiring amendments are sick and require medicines. We is not going to fake to not have identified the a number of agitations over time about the place the Presidency ought to go. When it goes North, these within the South will start to clamour and vice-versa. In most instances, individuals don’t get their flip as a result of they only want for it.
“If we cure this defect with this amendment, everybody will be guaranteed that sometime, you will have the opportunity and that will bond us the more.”
On his half, a member of the Labour Party representing Enugu-East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency, Enugu State, Paul Nnamchi, mentioned elections held in someday will save the nation the large value of getting polls held on totally different days.
“Every year, we embark on election reforms but we end up reforming nothing. We want elections to be held on the same day. A single tenure for President and governors will enable elected officials to be focused on legacy rather than the next election,” he mentioned.
Another member of the group, Matthew Nwogu, representing Aboh Mbaise Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency, Imo State, mentioned a single time period of six years for elected officers will assist maintain their minds on governance.
He submitted that low season elections ought to solely come up if an elected official is both impeached or dies in workplace.
“Elections every four years is a waste of resources. If there is going to be off-season elections, it should be as a result of impeachment or death of an office holder,” he mentioned.
