Reps grant LGs autonomy, abrogate SIEC, state/LG joint accounts
The president, vice president, governors and deputy governors may lose the immunity they now enjoy – at least if the House of Representatives had its way.
As the House warms up to commence debate on the report of its committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution, the possibility that these top public officials would be stripped of their immunity looms large.
Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal announced yesterday that the committee’s report would be considered before the lawmakers proceed on their annual vacation.
The committee, in its report, however did not tinker with the 4-year renewable tenure as against the 6-year single term recommended by the Senate for top public office holders.
Formally presenting the report yesterday, the Deputy Speaker and chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, said it was a collation of the views and opinions of Nigerians at the ‘Peoples Public Sessions’ and the 25 bills referred to it by the House.
The committee amended Section 308 by removing “the immunity from prosecution from criminal offences for persons occupying the position of president, vice president, governor and deputy governor, and to stem impunity in governance,” he said.
Also amended by the committee is Section 9, which empowers the president to assent to the amended constitution before it becomes law.
“The committee came to the conclusion that the rigorous provisions for the alteration of the constitution by members of the National Assembly and the participation of the 36 state houses of assembly represented such adequate participation of Nigerians and that assent of the president negated the principle contained therein,” said the deputy speaker.
Other amendments effected by the 53-member committee include the institution of full local government autonomy in the constitution and abrogation of the joint state-local government account.
The State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) were also axed, thereby empowering the INEC to conduct local government elections.
The committee also included a new section in the constitution creating “a new office of the Accountant General of the Federation and Accountant General of the Federal Government to ensure that persons are appointed into these two separate offices for professional management of resources”
Similarly, the committee put the offices of Attorney General of the Federation, the Accountant General of the Federation and the Auditor General of the Federal Government on first line charge of the consolidated revenue fund of the federation “in order to entrench the independence of the offices and insulate them from political control”.
The committee further stipulated that budgets be submitted by the executive for approval not later than 90 days before the expiration of the fiscal year.
“Force” was deleted from the ‘Nigeria Police Force’ by the committee to read ‘Nigeria Police’, just as it approved independent candidature and defined roles for traditional rulers.
It, however, noted that none of the agitations for creation of states met the stipulated requirements.
The president, vice president, governors and deputy governors may lose the immunity they now enjoy – at least if the House of Representatives had its way.
As the House warms up to commence debate on the report of its committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution, the possibility that these top public officials would be stripped of their immunity looms large.
Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal announced yesterday that the committee’s report would be considered before the lawmakers proceed on their annual vacation.
The committee, in its report, however did not tinker with the 4-year renewable tenure as against the 6-year single term recommended by the Senate for top public office holders.
Formally presenting the report yesterday, the Deputy Speaker and chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, said it was a collation of the views and opinions of Nigerians at the ‘Peoples Public Sessions’ and the 25 bills referred to it by the House.
The committee amended Section 308 by removing “the immunity from prosecution from criminal offences for persons occupying the position of president, vice president, governor and deputy governor, and to stem impunity in governance,” he said.
Also amended by the committee is Section 9, which empowers the president to assent to the amended constitution before it becomes law.
“The committee came to the conclusion that the rigorous provisions for the alteration of the constitution by members of the National Assembly and the participation of the 36 state houses of assembly represented such adequate participation of Nigerians and that assent of the president negated the principle contained therein,” said the deputy speaker.
Other amendments effected by the 53-member committee include the institution of full local government autonomy in the constitution and abrogation of the joint state-local government account.
The State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) were also axed, thereby empowering the INEC to conduct local government elections.
The committee also included a new section in the constitution creating “a new office of the Accountant General of the Federation and Accountant General of the Federal Government to ensure that persons are appointed into these two separate offices for professional management of resources”
Similarly, the committee put the offices of Attorney General of the Federation, the Accountant General of the Federation and the Auditor General of the Federal Government on first line charge of the consolidated revenue fund of the federation “in order to entrench the independence of the offices and insulate them from political control”.
The committee further stipulated that budgets be submitted by the executive for approval not later than 90 days before the expiration of the fiscal year.
“Force” was deleted from the ‘Nigeria Police Force’ by the committee to read ‘Nigeria Police’, just as it approved independent candidature and defined roles for traditional rulers.
It, however, noted that none of the agitations for creation of states met the stipulated requirements.
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