Category: Lead

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday listed conditions that will make Nigerians realise their enomous potential.  

According to him, equality before the law, enforcementof laws without fear or favour, election of leader through free and fair process are necessary.

Other conditions are  prioritisation of education and freedom of speech.

Johnson spoke in Lagos at the 16th Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe lecture series. It is with the theme: “Rehumanising human experience”.

The former UK leader, who was excited to be in Nigeria again, said the time had come for the both nations to work together to create more opportunities for their citizens, especially at a time more countries are drifting apart.

He said: “Now is the time. When the world is so uncertain, when some nations are disentangling, now is the time for the UK and Nigeria, two great democracies to work together.

“Nigeria can be a renewable superpower and still be a producer of oil and gas. We could be much more together.”

Johnson urged Nigeria to tap into the expertise he gained as a mayor and prime minister in the area of mass transportation.

According to him, people must be moved swiftly from one point and the other without wasting time.

Apart from seeking closer Nigeria-UK ties, he urged countries to unleash the potential of their citizens by prioritising education.

Johnson noted that the theme of the lecture was apt since not many people have had the opportunity to discover and activate their potentials.

He queried that with the population of Nigeria, how many citizens have been able to unleash their potential?

To achieve that, he said all people must be equal before the law and that the law must be enforced without fear or favour.

He canvassed the need for the citizens to elect their leaders through free and fair democratic process, calling for free speech, an open and tolerant society as well as the prioritisation of education by the government.

Johnson, who is still a member of parliament, said: “You need a society that is open and that is tolerant to develop human potential.”

Saying the Ukraine would triumph over Russia in the raging war, he said: “Putin got it wrong because he’s undemocratic. He has only yes-men around him.”

The event, chaired by former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, was also attended by a former Lagos State Deputy Governor Olufemi Pedro, who represented the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Lagos State Deputy Governor Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; former External Affairs Minister, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi; Chief Pascal Dozie; Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi; Senator Ben Obi; members of Anyiam-Osigwe family led by the matriarch, Chief Dorothy Anyiam-Osigwe; the Coordinator-General of Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation, Chief Charles Anyiam-Osigwe; Chief Emmanuel Chukwuka Anyiam-Osigwe; Chief Anthony Anyiam-Osigwe; Mr. George Anyiam-Osigwe, Chief Kennedy Anyiam-Osigwe; Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe.

Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, was the rapporteur at the event

Anyaoku said the lecture series has become a well-established occasion for acknowledged and global figures to share with the Nigerian public their experiences in managing human affairs.

He thanked the foundation for organising the 16th  session of the distinguished lecture in the series, expressing his delight to welcome Johnson, who he described as a great author, a fantastic journalist, a remarkable British politician, who succeeded in exiting the UK from Europe after monumental negotiation.

He said:  ”I believe if we were to effectively pursue the theme of this 16th lecture series of the Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe, namely: ‘Rehumanising human experience,’ consideration of the comprehensive welfare of the people should be the bedrock of policies and actions of politicians and actions across the world.”

Deputy Governor Hamzat urged Nigerians to be patriotic and avoid de-marketing the country.

“We will go nowhere if all we see about our country are the negatives,” he said.

Pedro said the president-elect, as a friend of the Anyiam-Osigwe family, would have loved to attend the event but was unavoidably absent, describing lecture’s title as “very apt and dear to Tinubu”.

He urged Nigerians to remain calm and support Tinubu to take the country to a greater height with renewed hope.

The Coordinator-General of the Foundation, George Anyiam-Osigwe, said the Lecture Series is not just an adventure in intellectual rhapsody; “it is not a memorial escapade to glorify an individual. No. It is an adventure within the bounds of the submission of Emmanuel Onyechere Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe on how we can realise a better world order.

“It is in this construct that he variously espouses man as the primary moving force of sentient existence. In his fragments,’’ he says “man is the centre of the universe”. It is in this context that he evaluates the primacy of man as the driving wheel of sentient existence and its social order.

“In the view of Anyiam-Osigwe, in earthbound existence, whether in the development of the sciences, technology, architecture, environment, economics and economic policy, agriculture, industry, ethical sustainability, man is the organic factor in giving direction and determining the depth of development. “While the world is assumed to have vastly improved developmentally, the poverty scale, inequality gap, crises of poor management of the environment, economic structures of ownership, wealth distribution within the group mind compass, labour and productivity, remain fundamental points of disputations,” he said.

A pro-democracy group, The Natives, yesterday faulted the claim by the opposition parties that their mandate was stolen, following their defeat at the February 25 presidential poll.

The group said “no mandate was stolen”, adding that the election was won by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The group also warned the opposition parties and their candidates to forget the thought of an interim government, saying that the nation already has a President-elect who will take it by May 29, 2023.

Also, the APC support group, led by Tosin Adeyanju, warned Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) against overheating the polity.

Addressing reporter in Abuja before embarking on a peaceful walk in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Supreme Leader of the Natives, Smart Edwards, appealed to Nigerians to allow democracy to grow by declaring their support for the President-elect.

“No mandate was stolen. It was either you (opposition parties) did not network with your people and Nigerians well, or your people did anti-party against you. Today we have witnessed PDP suspending its National Chairman, the man who campaigned for the party, that’s democracy.

“It is our turn, the Natives of Nigeria, to see a better Nigeria. It is our turn to see a working Nigeria. It is our turn to see a democracy that works. It is our turn to advance the country as Patriots. 

“Today, we are declaring absolutely that no mandate was stolen. INEC performed creditably and the election was free and fair. The election saw NNPPwinn the election in Kano state, APC though challenging the outcome but has decided to go to court, that’s democracy. PDP won the election in Rivers, Enugu, Taraba, Delta, Plateau states and others, and an APC candidate in Plateau has congratulated the winner, his party may choose to proceed to Court, that’s democracy. 

“In Benue, the APC has a Reverend Father who won the election overwhelmingly against the incumbent, that’s democracy. We saw Peter win won the election in Lagos state against the Landlord, that’s democracy. 

“We saw Labour Party won the election in FCT Abuja, that’s democracy. We saw an Okada man win an election in Kaduna state, that’s democracy. We saw a woman almost won an election in Adamawa but was declared inconclusive, that’s democracy.”

On the call for an interim government by the opposition, Edwards vowed that his group will resist the move.

“Those calling for interim government are jokers because when Shonekan was brought in, the people rejected it. Africa’s base for democracy in Nigeria. We have Goodluck Jonathan who is a symbol of democracy, we had late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who was a symbol of democracy and we have General Gowon, who is also a symbol of democracy. 

“Other Nations in Africa are learning from Nigeria. So, what I am saying is that the Natives of Nigeria are of all tribes and colouration, and nobody can attempt an interim government. President Muhammadu Buhari has spoken clearly and that’s why we came out today in solidarity with what the President said that he will hand over to Asiwaju Tinubu.

“So, Please I appeal, let’s balance our emotions with Progressiveness. Let’s banish bigotry wherever it is found, whether in the East, West, South or Noth. Let us work together and I also call on all parties to sheath their swords and proceed to Court if they are still aggressive or allow it to be.

“We are telling the opposition parties and their supporters that in the National Assembly, we are seeing six different parties who won elections and will form the 10th Assembly, that’s democracy. I tell you, some Senators lost their seats, and some governors lost the election. 

“What we are saying is that the International community should ensure that Nigeria which is their base point to Africa and the world should be supported to grow its democracy.

“The people who were injured during these elections are Nigeria, citizens. They are also Natives. We are calling on the opposition, particularly because we want to correct the erroneous view of Peter Obi’s running mate Datti Ahmed that there is no President-elect. If he had said that during the days of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, he will never appear in public again.

“We call on everybody, whether the young people who are hurt or the APC who is also hurt or PPD who is hurt or LP, NNPP and others, to allow peace to reign and be patriotic. The elections are over, but the elections are still in Court, please give Nigeria a chance to grow.”

Picking holes from the call for the removal of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman, the group leader said “he is not going anywhere. This same man conducted the election where NNPP won, Labour Party won, PDP also won in some states.

“The spirit of June 12 is upon us, by June 12 this year it will be 30 years. The same military that truncated democracy at that time in Agbada led by President Muhammadu Buhari has recognised this election. We believe that MKO Abiola’s soul will rest in peace on the day Bola Ahmeat d Tinubu takes over from President Muhammadu Buhari.

“I am also appealing in the name of the Almighty God to all Nigerians to please give peace a chance. We cannot continue to be protesting on the streets every day.

“We will be marching to INEC headquarters to tell the Commission that no mandate was stolen Asiwaju won the election and it remained so. Only Tribunal and Supreme Court can change the decision of INEC.”

Adeyanju said the solidarity rally will continue until May 29, when the President-elect is sworned-in.

Describing the general election as the freest and fairest, Adeyanju appealed to Nigerians not to listen to enemies of democracy who are bent on delegitimising the presidential election.

Edo APC chieftain John Mayaki said the opposition should not be allowed to truncate democracy, adding that they are sore losers

The Deputy Director of the Artisans and Technicians Directorate of the PCC, Hajiya Hadiza Mamman Vatsa, said the opposition had become unruly in defeat. 

She condemned the attitude of the opposition who had resorted to frivolous litigations and unwarranted public protests.

She said: “APC accepted defeats in so many unexpected states, I wondered why it was a hard nut for the opposition to crack by accepting that the presidential and indeed all the elections have been won and lost, what next is not campaign or protests, but for all to come together and work for the progress of our country,” Vatsa advised.

Another member, Abdullahi Mai’agogo, said: “The victory of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was as clear as a sunny day and one wonders why the waste of energy by the opposition over it.”

He also dismissed the assertions that there will be an interim government on the 29th of May.

Mai’agogo said: “The President-elect has been announced and President Muhammadu Buhari has openly said he would be handing over to the declared winner. All this noise about interim government is a figment of the opposition dream. Asiwaju will be sworn in to form a full-fledged administration come May 29.”

A High Court in Makurdi, Benue State has issued an interim injunction restraining Dr Iyorchia Ayu from parading himself as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Read Also: Post-poll crisis: Ayu under pressure to quit as PDP chair

The presiding judge, Justice W.I. Kpochi gave the interim order on Monday in suit No. MHC/85/2023 filed at the court by Engr Conrad Terhide Utaan with Ayu and the PDP as defendants.

The case has been adjourned until April 17 for further hearing.

Details Shortly…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced Saturday, April 15 for conclusion of the Governorship elections in Adamawa and Kebbi States hitherto declared inconclusive.

The Commission also said all National and Assembly elections declared inconclusive will also be concluded on the same day.

Read Also: Call for declaration of Kebbi gov result undermines INEC’s powers – PDP

Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekunmi said this followed a decision taken at the commission’s meeting on Monday.

He said: “Arising from its meeting held today, the Independent National Electoral Commission has decided that all outstanding Governorship, National and State Assembly supplementary elections will take place on Saturday 15th April 2023”.

Gunmen on Monday reportedly killed three officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and two civilians in Imo State.

They stormed the EkeIsu market in the Obiangwu community in the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area and shot the NSCDC officials and two civilians dead in a bloody shootout. The civilians are yet to be identified. 

A source in the community said that the victims were attacked in the early hours of Monday. 

He said that the NSCDC personnel were riding in a vehicle when the gunmen ambushed and killed them while the other two victims were passersby. 

According to the source, security operatives had taken over the community and were clamping down on suspected passersby including youths of the area.

Read Also: NSCDC probes harassment of PHED officials

He said that the lifeless bodies of the victims were still at the scene as of the time of filing this report.

The source said ” three operatives of the NSCDC were killed last night at EkeIsu market in Obiangwu Community in the Ngor Okpala LGA of Imo State. They were ambushed while in their vehicle. Their bodies have not been evacuated as we speak. Soldiers have taken over the community arresting every suspect.”

But when contacted, Imo police spokesperson Henry Okoye, told The Nation the incident happened yesterday’s midnight. 

“Yes, it is true, it happened midnight yesterday (early Monday morning)at Ngor Okpalla LGA, but only the NSCDC can confirm how many of their members were killed, however, people were killed and the security in the area has been beefed up. We are on the trail of the hoodlums,” he said. 

Spokesman of NSCDC, Chimeziri Lowell could not pick up several calls put across to him. 

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr Iyorchia Ayu has told the Executive Committee of his Ward that it lacks the power to suspend him.

The Executive Committee of Ayu’s PDP Igyorov Ward in Gboko local government area of Benue State,  on Sunday, passed a resolution suspending him from office following a no confidence vote passed on him by the Ward executive.

The Ward leadership accused Ayu of anti- party activities that led to the loss of the PDP at the national and state levels in the just concluded general elections. 

The Ward leaders also accused the party chairmen of failure to pay his annual dues as required by the PDP constitution.

But in a reaction on Monday, Ayu said those who suspended him were illiterates and ignorant of provisions of the PDP constitution.

In a statement on Monday signed on his behalf by his media aide, Simon Imobo-Tswam, the chairman said some of his Ward executive members were being tele-guided by those he described as political gamblers “to cause mischief and nothing more”.

Read Also: Post-poll crisis: Ayu under pressure to quit as PDP chair

He faulted the Ward resolution that suspended him, saying that it was drafted by “illiterates” and some members of the Ward executive were  coerced into signing it. 

Ayu said only the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) has the powers to suspend him.

According to him, some of the Exco members who refused to sign the resolution were being held hostage in an unnamed location in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

He added that the said resolution suspending him was as fraudulent and the people that signed it.

“The purported suspension is, therefore, an exercise in futility as it derives its strength majorly from gross illiteracy, ignorance, gambling and desperation. It has only mischief, drama and propaganda value”, Ayu declared.

The statement said: “We wish to state categorically and with all emphasis at our disposal thus:

“For starters, Article 57(7) of the PDP Constitution as Amended in 2017 expressly prohibits any organ of the party or executive committee of the party at the Ward or State Level from taking any disciplinary measure against any member of the party’s National Executive Committee.

“The purported suspension is, therefore, an exercise in futility as it derives its strength majorly from gross illiteracy, ignorance, gambling and desperation. It has only mischief, drama and propaganda value.

“But more than this, the so-called suspension letter was written by an illiterate before hand, and only given to the coerced members to sign somewhere in Makurdi.

“This is why the original date is tipexed and 24 March imposed on it. And this is also why it states that the presidential/NASS and Governorship/State Assembly elections held on 25th and 18th March, 2023 respectively.

“From what we know, the document itself is fraudulent as the signatures of the Ward Executives were forged or obtained under duress.

“The (Ward) chairman, his deputy and legal adviser didn’t sign. The 14th person on the list didn’t sign too. She was at NKST Ambighir for the Holy Communion. 

“In fact, the same applies for Nos. 5, 8 and 16. At the time they  were supposed to be in Makurdi with the other coerced, intimidated and induced members of the Exco, they were actually in their villages, going about their normal businesses”.

“Up till now, about nine members of the Ward Exco are still being held hostage in a location in Makurdi for obvious reasons. And expectedly, their mobile numbers have been switched off. It is instructive.

“The general public is hereby advised to ignore rumours to this heinous effect. Those behind the plot are only investing in expensive illusions”.

• Ward exco suspends party boss •Why he must go now, by his deputy

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Dr. Iyorchia Ayu is under pressure to quit, following the protracted crisis that has hit the platform.

Yesterday, he was suspended by the executive committee of his native Igyorov Ward in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State after a vote of no confidence was passed in him.

Also, the PDP Deputy National Chairman, Ambassador Taofik Arapaja, said Ayu should resign to pave the way for the rebuilding of the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike spoke in a smiliar vein like that of the deputy national chairman.

A resolution passed at the end of the Igyorov Ward meeting and read by its Secretary, Mr. Banger Dooyum, accused Ayu of causing PDP to lose the recent general election at the state, local government and ward levels in Benue State.

The resolution reads in part: “He (Ayu) was involved in anti-party activities, making the PDP lose at his ward and local government along with his allies who also didn’t vote at the governorship election.”

The Ward exco also accused him of failing to pay his annual dues as demanded by the PDP constitution.

Ayu’s suspension is coming barely 72 hours after the PDP national leadership announced the suspension of two of its ex-governors —Ayo Fayose (Ekiti) and Ibrahim Shema (Katsina)— for alleged anti-party activities.

Also suspended was a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Pius Anyim.

Prof. Dennis Ityavyar from Benue State and Dr. Aslam Aliyu from Zamfara State were similarly suspended by the Ayu-led National Working Committee (NWC).

Arapaja, in an interview with The Nation, said the embattled National Chairman should quit because he has not only failed to lead the party to victory in the presidential election, he also lost his polling unit, ward, local government and state to another party.

The PDP chieftain said party politics and management are not an academic exercise in which academics are regarded as experts. He explained that under Dr Ayu’s leadership, governors who have a large following and great influence left the party without Ayu showing any concern.

Arapaja insisted that Ayu should honourably tender his resignation to pave the way for the rebuilding of the party.

He said: “Before the election, we told them that there must be justice and equity. 

“We said the national chairman should be a Southerner for the purpose of inclusiveness, having produced a presidential candidate of Northern origin. But they refused.

“When it was time to choose the vice presidential candidate, I was a member of the committee. We all agreed on Nyesom Wike. 

“But they moved on without Wike and the entire G-5 governors. We had nothing to campaign within the South. 

“Another party zoned its presidency to the South. You can see the result now.

“It is time for us to go back to the drawing board and build a party in which there is justice and equity.”

Arapaja added: “Any political party must be able to deliver. If you are a leader and are unable to deliver, you need to step down. 

“Ayu could not deliver his polling unit, his ward, local government and state, let alone the presidency.

“He is not a politician, and cannot continue to serve as the national chairman of our party. He should step down. PDP is not a university; it is a political party.

“If he is a man of integrity, he does not need to be told to throw in the towel. The party needs to be completely rebuilt.”

The governors, who came together under the umbrella of Integrity Group – Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ifeanyi Ugwuayi (Enugu), Ikpeazu Okezie (Abia) and Samuel Ortom (Benue) have distanced themselves from the activities of the Ayu-led NWC.

Efforts by our correspondence to get reaction from the PDP chair were not successful.

Ayu’s immediate predecessor, Prince Uche Secondus, was in 2021 removed in similar circumstances.

The allegation against Secondus by his Ward Exco in Rivers State was that he failed to pay his annual membership dues for an accumulated period of 10 years.

Secondus, who was suspended a few weeks to the end of his tenure, did not regain his seat until his tenure expired.

Ayu was eventually elected chairman following which he resumed duties on December 9, 2021.

Experts have highlighted what Nigerians stand to benefit from 16 Constitution Review Bills recently assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari. Economic and development experts are optimistic that the new laws will accelerate the pace of economic development, encourage competition, enhance true federalism and spark off infrastructural revival in the country. MUYIWA LUCAS, NDUKA CHIEJINA, COLLINS NWEZE and SANNI ONOGU report

Economic and development experts have reacted to transfer of power and railway from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List, stressing that the new wave of liberalisation is good for the country’s economy. In a chat with The Nation yesterday, the Chief Executive Officer, Center for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr Muda Yusuf, noted that the recent constitutional amendments bills devolving powers to the states is a welcome development as it marks an incremental shift towards true federalism.

“It is good for overall national development. It is also good for healthy competition among the sub-nationals,” he said. Noting that there are huge investment opportunities in the power sector, Yusuf explained that for some of the items on the power devolution, funding can be sourced from investors if bankable project concepts can be developed. “There are huge investment opportunities in the power sector as well as in rail transport development in the states. It is a great opportunity to unlock the enormous opportunities in public private partnership (PPP),” Yusuf said.

 The CPPE boss said the proposal by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission to tweak the revenue allocation formula would also strengthen the capacity of the sub-nationals to take on more responsibilities. He further explained that the three aspects above, if properly harnessed by states, will present robust economic gains for the country as a whole. This he noted to include the rapid development of cottage industries across the country.

 Also reacting to this development, Mr Gbolade Idakolo, Managing Director/CEO SD&D Capital Management Limited, said the new laws are “going to engender growth in most states because they now have the legal backing to generate their own power infrastructure, have intermodal rail systems and have state prisons.”

 States that take advantage of this laws he said “will be able take significant initiatives for growth and development in their states.” Idakolo noted that “states having control of power generation would attract more investments to their states and in turn generate more IGR (Internally Generated Revenue). This will help them to develop other alternative means of transportation like the rail system and be able to build state prisons to control criminal activities in the states.”

 He added that “state like Lagos, Kano, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and even the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) should take advantage of this new legislation to grow their territories.” The overall benefit to the economy in general “would be tremendous if this initiative is taken,” he said.

Also speaking, Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Eze Onyekpere, said moving power, railway and prisons from the Exclusive to Concurrent Legislative List is a step in the right direction. According to him, the move is a first step in the restructuring plan being canvassed by different stakeholders. He said the power sector has not been delivering value, and moving it to concurrent legislative list means the states will control power grids and reduce energy loss.

He said the cost of moving generated power through a very long distance, from state to state will reduce and make electricity more available to the people.

 According to Onyekpere, several states can still come together and work on getting the railways working. He said the South-east, South-south, South-west and northern states can work together to get their railways working. He said that investors from the diaspora can also partner with their home states through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to get power working. However, he said that leaving prisons to the states could present some challenges, where such states abuse the opportunity against its political enemies. Onyekpere added that with many states still struggling to pay salaries, not because of lack of funds, but due to corruption, the implementation of the plan will also come with some challenges.

 Recently, President Buhari assented to 16 Constitution Amendment Bills in furtherance of Section 58 (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The Bills signed into law by the President on Friday March 17, 2023, are part of the 35 Constitution Alteration Bills transmitted to him by the National Assembly in January 2023. Major highlights of the 16 Bills include the grant of financial autonomy to State Houses of Assembly and State Judiciary in the country as well as the law to regulate the first session and inauguration of members-elect of the National and State Houses of Assembly.

  Part of the new law would also enable state governments to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity in areas covered by the national grid in a bid to enhance power situation in the country. Also included is a law on exclusion of the period of intervening events in the computation of time for determining pre-election matters petitions. Others are to ensure that the President and Governors submit the names of persons nominated as Ministers or Commissioners within 60 days of taking the oath of office for confirmation by the Senate or State Houses of Assembly.

 They also include a law that changed the name of Nigeria Prison Service to Correctional Service and the re-designation of correctional service in the concurrent list as well as removing “railway” from the exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List to enable state governments to establish and operate railway services.

 In his reaction to the recently assented Bills into law, Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Ajibola Basiru, said the new laws would help deepen development at the grassroots level across the country. Basiru, in an interview with our, said the Ninth National Assembly also made tremendous progress in terms of legislations apart from the 16 Constitution Bills recently assented to by the President.

 Basiru said: “The 9th Assembly, both the Senate and the House of Representatives, we have been able to come up with impactful legislation in the past four years. Aside the once that were recently signed, you will discover that the Petroleum Industry Act that had been in the pipeline for a decade and half was done with by the ninth Assembly.

 “Also is the improvement of the electoral system by the Electoral Act 2022, which was a product of the work of the 9th Assembly. Banks and other Financial Institutions Act as well as the Company and Allied Matters Act, the Police Act…were also passed by the Ninth Assembly. More fundamentally is the devolution of power, which has occurred by some of the Bills recently assented to by Mr. President.

 “This will deepen development at the state level. Now the states can actively partake in the power sector because they can participate in the generation, transmission and distribution of power even in areas covered by the National grid. Also, railways too which is a means of mass transportation and this will impact particularly on states with large urban centres.

  “Then of course, Correctional Services, which has been an anomaly before because while the bulk of prosecution of criminal offenses was done at the state level, yet the previous law did not allow them to own correctional services. If you are the one prosecuting an offender and you don’t have control over correctional services it becomes an aberration. I think that is also critical for development.

 “Also, the autonomy of the judiciary and legislative arms at the state level is now a matter of law. But unfortunately, the states did not approve of local government autonomy. The Ninth Assembly feels that there is a need for local government autonomy to make development closer to the grassroots.

 “When you see most of the problems we members of the National Assembly confront in our constituencies, it is because of the failure of local government administration. A National Assembly member will be asked about grading of roads, provision of water and sanitation which ideally are matters for the Local Governments. So we hope that the states will be alive to their responsibilities to ensure that there is passage of the local government autonomy bill because that level of government has been truncated.

 “Another landmark achievement of Ninth Assembly is the consistency in terms of January to December budget cycle. We have been very consistent about that and at the same time to also allow implementation of those budgets to run full cycle even by extending the implementation of the capital aspects of those budgets beyond 12 months period to ensure that no project is abandoned. This has assisted in ensuring that meaningful development touches the various sectors of our society and get to as many constituencies as possible.”

 Basiru however attributed the large number of impactful legislations passed and assented to by the President to the cordial relationship between the executive and the legislative arm of government during this dispensation. He said: “Unlike the eight Assembly where almost 300 Bills could not see the light of day, you see that our most impactful bills have been assented to because there is a close working relationship where grey areas in those bills are always ironed out. So there is much to speak to the benefit of Nigeria of harmonious relationship between the Legislative and Executive Arm.”

 On the status of a bill seeking to decentralise the Nigeria police along regional lines sponsored by him, Basiru said there is hope that it would be passed. Responsible to a question, he said: “Yes, it is still in the pipeline. Since the Bill on state police could not pass through the constitution review committee, the consensus that we agreed on was to sponsor a bill to decentralize the police along regional and zonal lines so that they have budgetary and operational autonomy which will enable them to be able to discharge their responsibilities. So the bill is still before the National Assembly, we are hopeful that before we round up our tenure, it will be passed.”

 Senate President Ahmad Lawan had last week commended Buhari for his assent to the 16 Bills. He, however, said the relevant committees of the National Assembly would engage the Presidency to find out why the remaining 19 Bills were not signed in a bid to do what may be necessary to make them scale through.

  Speaking during plenary on Tuesday last week, Lawan said: “Why I’m talking about these bills now is because of what we’ve been able to achieve in the 9th National Assembly and there are so many important developments by signing those bills and of course we also believe that those bills that have not been assented to.

 “I believe that the President acted very wisely on this by signing the bills because just like we have financial independence here at the national level, our state legislatures should enjoy similar independence so that they are cut off from the schemes of the legislatures in the states to the executive arm in their various states and of course when the judiciary does not enjoy financial independence, you can imagine what will happen.

 “We believe that the judiciary should be financially independent just like the federal judiciary is because it gives them that power, that authority that without fear or favour, they can make their judgement and conduct their affairs. For the 19 bills that the president did not assent to, I believe that there is need for us to do further engagement between the national assembly and the Executive Arm of Government.

 “Our constitution review to engage the executive arm of government so that we go through the items in those bills that have not been assented to. What are the issues; are those issues issues we can deal with immediately. Because we have put in a lot of resources, a lot time to produce those bills and I believe that may be there are few explanations that we will make and they will be okay and we will do that almost immediately because time is of essence.

 “Where the issues are too much to handle, I think the 10th National Assembly should be able to attend to such issues. I commend the 9th National Assembly for working assiduously for Nigerians.”

Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 10 (Enforcement of Legislative Summon – Sections 89 & 129): “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to compel persons to obey or comply with Legislative Summons.”

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 24, 2022 (Expansion of the Interpretation of “Judicial Office” – Section 318): “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to expand the Interpretation of Judicial Office to include Courts or Tribunals created by an Act of the National Assembly or a State Law of the House of Assembly.”

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 29, 2022 (Devolution of Powers [Airports] – Part I & II, Second Schedule): “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Move Airports from Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List.”

• Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 39, 2022 (Power to Enforce Compliance of Remittance of Accruals into the Federation Account and Review of Revenue Allocation Formula – Section 162 & Part I, Third Schedule): “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Empower the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission to Enforce Compliance with Remittance of Accruals into and Disbursement of Revenue from the Federation Account and Streamline the Procedure for Reviewing the Revenue Allocation Formula.”

 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 40, 2022 (Independence of Certain Bodies – Sections 158 & 202): “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Enhance the Independence of Certain Bodies.”

• Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 41, 2022 (Removal of Transitional Law-making Powers of the Executive – Section 315): “A  Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Remove Transitional Lawmaking Powers from the Executive Arms of Government.”

 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 43, 2022 (Domestication of Treaties – Section 12): “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Specify the Time within which the Executive shall present to the National Assembly any Treaty between the Federation and any other Country for Enactment.”

• Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 44, 2022 (Timeline for the Presentation of Appropriation Bills – Sections 81 & 121): “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Specify the period within which the President or the Governor of State shall present the Appropriation Bill before the National Assembly or House of Assembly.”

 •  Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 48, 2022 (Power to Summon the President and Governors – Sections 67 & 108): “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Second Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Empower the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly to summon the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Governors of States to answer Questions on issues on which the National and State Houses of Assembly have the Powers to make Law.”

 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 49, 2022 (Authorisation of Expenditure – Sections 82 & 122): “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to reduce the Period within which the President or the Governor of a State may authorize the withdrawal of Monies from the Consolidated Revenue Fund in the absence of an Appropriations Act from six months to three months.”

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 50, 2022 (Replacement/Correction of the Usage of the “Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation” with the “Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federal Government” in the Constitution – Sections 80, 81, 82 & 83): “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Replace the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation with the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federal Government.”

• Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 51, 2022 (Creation of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federal Government – Section 84):

“A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Establish the Office of the Accountant –General of the Federal Government separate from the Office of the Accountant –General of the Federation.”

• Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 47, 2022 (Establishment of State Security Council – Section 197 & Part II, Third Schedule): “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Establish State Security Council; and for related matters.”

• Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 54, 2022 (State of the Nation and State of the State Address – Sections 67 & 108): “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for a State of the Nation and State of the State Address by the President and Governor.”

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 55, 2022 (Composition of Members of the Council of State – Part I, Third Schedule): “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Include Former Heads of the National Assembly in the Council of State.”

• Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 57, 2022 (Restriction on Formation of Political Parties – Sections 222 & 223): “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Enhance existing Provisions on the Formation of Political Parties.”

 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 62, 2022 (Correction in the Definition of the Boundary of the Federal Capital Territory – Part II, First Schedule): “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to correct the Error in the definition of the Boundary of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”

• Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 65, 2022 (Food Security – Section 16): “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to require the Government to Direct its Policy towards ensuring Rights to Food and Food Security in Nigeria.”

 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, No. 66, 2022 (Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps – Section 213 & Part III): “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Reflect the Establishment and Core Functions of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.”