2 WEDNESDAY , AUGUST 2 , 2017
Vox pop
Was National Assembly right to reject devolution of power to states ?
It was wrong for the National Assembly to have rejected devolution of power to states . What this confirms is that Nigeria is unequal and this affects parts of what we have been fighting for : justice and equity . We lack justice and equity in Nigeria .
If we have a National Assembly where the senators speaking from the South are few at any time and the senators speaking from the North are more in number , then there is no way votes for restructuring , devolution of power and resource control can succeed under this circumstance .
The fear of the majority in the National Assembly is that if power is devolved to the states , then the centre does not have all the power it enjoys right now . The centre as we speak now is more powerful when they take away the resources from one part of Nigeria and everyone benefits from the sharing . Don ’ t forget that sharing is on the basis of the number of local governments . We currently have a situation where Bayelsa State has eight local governments , while Kano has 44 local governments .
Now , when you have a situation like that , it means that already , there is an injustice because what is being shared is coming from Bayelsa and the state is only taking eight , whereas the state , which is taking the majority of what is being shared , is bringing
• Habeeb Whyte ( A legal practitioner )
The National Assembly is right to some extent in rejecting the bill . The moment you decentralise power , then our state governors are empowered to be law to themselves . The rejection is good for the moment and it is healthy . It will give more clarity and debate on why it should be differentiated from restructuring , considering the agitations by various constituents .
There is a lot of mistrust in the country . The air is polluted and let us be very frank , the blame is for us all . We brought our country to this situation . We don ’ t need to give more power to persons that are already abusing it . We need to get rid of corruption before we decentralise power .
If there is sincerity in the agitations for devolution of power , the bill should have been successful . To start with , we have former governors in the National Assembly . At a point , they called for devolution of power during their various terms in office , but when the constitution amendment gave them the opportunity to make it a reality , they opposed it vehemently . It shows that there is a
• Annkio Briggs ( A Niger-Delta activist )
absolutely nothing .
Voting in support of devolution of power would have solved this problem . But , that would be against the states that are not economically viable . This is why we have been campaigning that we need to restructure this country .
mischief that has been calculated to frustrate the bill .
We don ’ t need to add to our problems and heat up the polity . The bill is not yet ripe for operation at the moment . Rather than mounting pressure for devolution of power , we should ensure greater entrenchment of federalism as a cardinal political and governance strategy . That is what we need . We need to consider the agitations of all parts before we make laws for their development . As much as devolution of power will bring quick and rapid growth to the federating units as argued , it should be noted that the importance will only be achieved if we have sincere leaders .
The question now is , do we have sincere leaders as our governors ? If we have sincere leaders as governors , we are good to go in expanding their power and if not , let the status quo remain and let our attitude towards governance and development be decentralised in ensuring a better Nigeria . When our system has been sanitised , then we can call for proper devolution of power .
Well , I do not really support the idea
( of not ceding power to the states ). I think that the states should be strengthened . A former President of the United States of America , Mr . Barack Obama , said it is better to strengthen institutions than to strengthen individuals . It is high time that , as a country , we strengthened our states so that they can be very viable and be able to meet the yearning of the people .
Until the states are strengthened and made viable , the Federal Government cannot be strong . Look at the US , for instance , every state is unique on its own ; each is known for something and struggles to raise its revenue profile in order to meet the needs of its people . Until we imbibe such ideals , it may be difficult for us to progress . We cannot forever be afraid of
Compiled by : Success Nwogu , Ckukwudi Akasike , Samuel Awoyinfa , Mudiaga Effe and Okere Alendander
Let me say with emphasis that the National
Assembly disappointed Nigerians by their rejection of devolution of power to states . The National Assembly missed another ample opportunity to redefine federalism and make it to reflect true federalism .
I had expected that the constitution would have been tinkered with in this regard so that less duties , power and responsibilities will be given to the centre . Why must we concentrate more power and responsibilities on the Federal Government at the expense of the states ?
I see no reasonable justification for the action of our elected representatives in the National Assembly . I thought they should have conducted a surgical operation on the legislative lists and move most of the items away from the Exclusive List . For example , agriculture , road , among others . The centre should be left with serious issues like electricity , banking , mining , aviation and transportation .
It is not in dispute that states are closer to the people and more power and responsibilities ought to be devolved to them , which automatically means more allocation . It is awkward that the Federal Government takes more percentage of the allocation on monthly basis than the federating states . I think the decision of the National Assembly is not the best for Nigeria and peaceful coexistence of Nigerians at this critical time .
I am afraid with respect to the National Assembly ’ s action of abandoning the critical
• Chief Ekpo Okon ( A former Chairman , Peoples Democratic Party , Cross River State )
Indeed , of all aspects of the constitutional amendment that I thought the National Assembly would have dealt with , devolution
our shadows .
If the state governors are not performing , the people will call them to order and the states will work hard to generate revenue and use the revenue for the good of the people . Also , the people will be strong enough to ask questions when the revenue goes where it is not supposed to go . But now , everything is at the federal level .
If you ask a taxi driver about the condition of his road , he will ask President Muhammadu Buhari to fix it for him . But , for instance , when will the President visit Uhunmwonde Local Government Area where I represent ? But , the governor can visit the place and that is the truth of the matter .
I agree that there is corruption . But we must start somewhere . We must begin to entrust people with responsibilities ; until you entrust people with responsibilities ,
• Chief Rafiu Balogun ( National Legal Adviser , Nigerian Bar Association )
issue of devolution of power ; it is self-serving . The rejection is condemnable and it is a demonstration of insensitivity by our elected representatives at the National Assembly to the yearning and aspirations of Nigerians for true federalism .
We all know that the 1999 Constitution is a document that has lied against itself , as the people never made it . The National Assembly bungled the opportunity to reflect the wishes of the people in the constitution .
of power was the most important . The problems of Nigeria and even the trending discourse on restructuring , are about the devolution of power .
Everybody has agreed to the fact that the centre is too loaded . It has become too strong and therefore too attractive . This is the reason there is disharmony among the component groups .
This is so because there is this belief that certain groups have hijacked the bulk of the benefits as they are the ones in control of the power at the centre .
The truth is that Nigeria is just too big . So , we had expected that in carrying out the constitutional amendment , the National Assembly would have been looking at how to devolve power to the states and reduce the roles of the Federal Government . That will also make the national government less attractive .
In addition , this will bring about less acrimony among the component groups in the country .
• Mrs . Elizabeth Ativie ( Deputy Speaker , Edo State House of Assembly )
you don ’ t know how much they can do . If they ( National Assembly ) allow the states to have these powers , they ( states ) will be challenged and the pressure will go off the Federal Government .