The Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu has assured Nigerians that the constitutional review will bring true federalism anticipated by the citizenry.
Kalu, stated this in Ikogosi-Ekiti at the South-West Retreat for Speakers and Principal Officers of the State Houses of Assembly, themed: Strengthening Democratic Governance at sub-national level and sponsored by Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCRO).
Speaking with journalists, Kalu said the House of Representatives has received 161 proposals bordering amendments in the constitution, which according to him will take effect from January, 2025.
He harped on the effective collaboration between the Green Chamber and state houses of assembly, saying they are the fundamental body to facilitate the constitutional review.
His words: “You can not amend the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria without the involvement of the state legislation. They occupy the cardinal, fundamental position in the structure of the amendment of the constitution.
“We are here today to see the southwest caucus of House of Assembly to intimate them on process and how far we have gone in our efforts to have a constitution review by December, 2025.
“161 proposals have been gotten from the memorandum given out to the public. Federalism will be the decision of Nigerians based on submission by them when we call for document.
“We are working on what Nigerians said should be included in the new constitution. We will get our information from the Town Hall meeting we will commence by January, 2025, people will be incorporated”
On his part, the Ekiti State Speaker, House of Assembly and Chairman, Southwest caucus, Hon Stephen Aribasoye hailed the National Assembly for collaborating with the region, stressing that such intimacy will foster unity and bring success in the process of constitutional review.
He added that the retreat was borne to foster cooperation among the southwest region in ensuring that peer review and synergy strive in the lawmaking process.
“You can’t have constitutional amendment without the input of state legislation, which is 2/3 majority of the state house of Assembly have to agree before you can have any bill into in Nigeria.
“The Current National Assembly has been very fair in ensuring that all stakeholders are carried along including the Houses of Assembly in Nigeria. No nation can strive without good laws and laws are made by the legislative arms of the government.
“This retreat is to enrich our understanding and foster cooperation among the subnational particularly, the southwest and ensure that we have peer review and synergy and good understanding of lawmaking”.
The Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, represented by Secretary to the State Government, Alhaja Abibat Adubiaro, commended southwest caucus for being at the front burner
of human development.
He also hailed Aribasoye for his remarkable leadership policies which have brought creativity, vibrance to Ekiti State House of Assembly, making it the most innovative and ICT-driven House of Assembly in the country.
“South-west geo political zone remains the front runner in so many areas of human development, which is a product of mutual cooperation between Ekiti and legislature in our region”. He added
The former governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi tasked the legislators to practice politics as call to service and not a moneymaking business enterprise to rip the people they are representing.
He also urged them to improve their quality of service being rendered in order to gain the trust of the citizenry.
“The principals officers in our various assembly in the southwest have come together with engagement with experts to really see how they can deepen the governance process.
“That’s why I joined them to talk about executive legislative collaboration ultimately, what is important is for us to recognize politics as service not politics as business.
“We are in this for the public good and if the public find us inadequate, the onus is on the legislators to improve the quality of service being rendered to the people”.
