* National Assembly seeks power for INEC to conduct
council polls
THE Senate was yesterday sharply divided over the recommendation
for the abolition of the controversial Land Use Act from the
constitution.
The upper chamber, which began clause-by-clause consideration of
the recommendations of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review,
will today start the actual voting on the clauses as recommended by
the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu-led Constitution Review
panel.
Ekweremadu, who gave overview of the report, said the
recommendations were a product of joint committee of the Senate and
the House of Representatives.
Removal of the Land Use Act from the Constitution, placing
allocations for the Office of the Attorney General of the
Federation on First Line charge, devolution of power to states,
local government autonomy and conduct of local government elections
were the areas senators differed during the debate of the general
principles of the bills.
Ekweremadu said the joint committee agreed to reduce the
recommendation of bills to ensure that the failure of one bill does
not affect others.
He said there were 34 bills had been lined up for consideration
and possible approval of the Senate.
One of the major recommendations was the removal of the Land Use
Act from the Constitution.
Many senators from the Northern were said to be against the
proposal. But their southern counterparts were said to have
favoured the recommendation.
On the Land Use Act, committee recommended: “Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, (Fourth Alteration) Bill, No. 32, 2017
(Deletion of the Land Use Act from the Constitution) – The Bill
seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
1999 to delete the Land Use Act from the Constitution so that it
can be subject to the regular process of amendment.”
Senators Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) and Senator Mohammed
Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central) were vocal in their insistence that
the status quo should be maintained.
Aliero, who is also a member of the review committee, told the
Senate that there were no unanimity on some of the issues listed
for voting.
He said the Land Use Act should be retained in the constitution
because it remained a controversial issue.
On local government autonomy, he agreed that local governments
should be autonomous and allocations be paid directly to the local
government coffers.
Aliero, however, added that the payment of salaries of primary
school teachers should be retained as it is.
He kicked against devolution of powers to states without first
reviewing the Revenue Allocation Formula.
He said the exercise would be effort in futility to devolve
power to the states without giving them the financial strength to
carry the load.
Goje said the Land Use Act should be left the way it is “because
the Land Use Act is a very controversial issue.”
Goje backed those who wanted the local government election to be
conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC).
His fears, he said, is that the proposal may not go down well at
the state level.
Goje cautioned that senators should be allowed to take some of
the issues slated for voting to their constituents to find out what
Nigerians wanted.
On the devolution of more power to the state, he agreed that it
should be done with reviewing the Revenue Allocation Formula to
ensure more funds to the states.
Senator Gbenga Ashafa agreed that the Land Use Act should be
left the way it is in the constitution because of its controversial
nature.
Ashafa noted that at the committee level, the proposal to remove
the Land Use Act from the Constitution generated a lot of arguments
for and against.
He feared that if it is removed from the constitution, various
people would emerge to claim the ownership of land in various
areas.
Senator Dino Melaye supported the reduction in age of those who
want to contest senatorial and House of Representative
elections.
The Kogi West senator said he was happy that former governors in
the chamber were in support of local governments’ autonomy.
He moved a motion that the conduct of local government election
should henceforth be conducted by the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure transparency and free and
fair election.
Senator Sunny Ogbuorji promptly seconded the motion.
Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki put the motion to a
voice vote.
The motion was overwhelmingly carried.
Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan, who started the debate, congratulated
the committee for a job well done.
On the presentation of the annual budget, Lawan noted that since
the committee recommended that the Executive must present the
budget 90 days before the end of the fiscal year, the National
Assembly should also legislate to pass the budget before the end of
the financial year.
Senator Olusola Adeyeye said those in their mid-30s should be
allowed to come to the Senate while those in their mid-20s should
be allowed to go to the House of Representatives.
Senator Peter Nwaoboshi wondered why some of those who endorsed
the report turned back to oppose some clause, which they
endorsed.
Nwaobosho noted that there would have been no need for some
senators to sign the report, if they knew that they still needed to
consult.
But Goje, who seemed to have been targeted by Nwaoboshi,
insisted that it was his right at any time to speak his mind on
issues.
Saraki agreed and said senators have the right to change their
stance on any issue at any time.
Senator James Manager said a specific date should be assigned
when the budget must be submitted to the National Assembly.
Saraki hailed the committee, especially for keeping the promise
to submit the report before the National Assembly goes on
recess.
Saraki added that areas that needed further consultations would
be subjected to further consultations.
He mandated that committee to liaise with the House committee
members to see how to narrow down areas of disagreement.
The two chambers of the National Assembly are set to vote on the
recommendations today.
* National Assembly seeks power for INEC to conduct
council polls
THE Senate was yesterday sharply divided over the recommendation
for the abolition of the controversial Land Use Act from the
constitution.
The upper chamber, which began clause-by-clause consideration of
the recommendations of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review,
will today start the actual voting on the clauses as recommended by
the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu-led Constitution Review
panel.
Ekweremadu, who gave overview of the report, said the
recommendations were a product of joint committee of the Senate and
the House of Representatives.
Removal of the Land Use Act from the Constitution, placing
allocations for the Office of the Attorney General of the
Federation on First Line charge, devolution of power to states,
local government autonomy and conduct of local government elections
were the areas senators differed during the debate of the general
principles of the bills.
Ekweremadu said the joint committee agreed to reduce the
recommendation of bills to ensure that the failure of one bill does
not affect others.
He said there were 34 bills had been lined up for consideration
and possible approval of the Senate.
One of the major recommendations was the removal of the Land Use
Act from the Constitution.
Many senators from the Northern were said to be against the
proposal. But their southern counterparts were said to have
favoured the recommendation.
On the Land Use Act, committee recommended: “Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, (Fourth Alteration) Bill, No. 32, 2017
(Deletion of the Land Use Act from the Constitution) – The Bill
seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
1999 to delete the Land Use Act from the Constitution so that it
can be subject to the regular process of amendment.”
Senators Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) and Senator Mohammed
Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central) were vocal in their insistence that
the status quo should be maintained.
Aliero, who is also a member of the review committee, told the
Senate that there were no unanimity on some of the issues listed
for voting.
He said the Land Use Act should be retained in the constitution
because it remained a controversial issue.
On local government autonomy, he agreed that local governments
should be autonomous and allocations be paid directly to the local
government coffers.
Aliero, however, added that the payment of salaries of primary
school teachers should be retained as it is.
He kicked against devolution of powers to states without first
reviewing the Revenue Allocation Formula.
He said the exercise would be effort in futility to devolve
power to the states without giving them the financial strength to
carry the load.
Goje said the Land Use Act should be left the way it is “because
the Land Use Act is a very controversial issue.”
Goje backed those who wanted the local government election to be
conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC).
His fears, he said, is that the proposal may not go down well at
the state level.
Goje cautioned that senators should be allowed to take some of
the issues slated for voting to their constituents to find out what
Nigerians wanted.
On the devolution of more power to the state, he agreed that it
should be done with reviewing the Revenue Allocation Formula to
ensure more funds to the states.
Senator Gbenga Ashafa agreed that the Land Use Act should be
left the way it is in the constitution because of its controversial
nature.
Ashafa noted that at the committee level, the proposal to remove
the Land Use Act from the Constitution generated a lot of arguments
for and against.
He feared that if it is removed from the constitution, various
people would emerge to claim the ownership of land in various
areas.
Senator Dino Melaye supported the reduction in age of those who
want to contest senatorial and House of Representative
elections.
The Kogi West senator said he was happy that former governors in
the chamber were in support of local governments’ autonomy.
He moved a motion that the conduct of local government election
should henceforth be conducted by the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure transparency and free and
fair election.
Senator Sunny Ogbuorji promptly seconded the motion.
Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki put the motion to a
voice vote.
The motion was overwhelmingly carried.
Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan, who started the debate, congratulated
the committee for a job well done.
On the presentation of the annual budget, Lawan noted that since
the committee recommended that the Executive must present the
budget 90 days before the end of the fiscal year, the National
Assembly should also legislate to pass the budget before the end of
the financial year.
Senator Olusola Adeyeye said those in their mid-30s should be
allowed to come to the Senate while those in their mid-20s should
be allowed to go to the House of Representatives.
Senator Peter Nwaoboshi wondered why some of those who endorsed
the report turned back to oppose some clause, which they
endorsed.
Nwaobosho noted that there would have been no need for some
senators to sign the report, if they knew that they still needed to
consult.
But Goje, who seemed to have been targeted by Nwaoboshi,
insisted that it was his right at any time to speak his mind on
issues.
Saraki agreed and said senators have the right to change their
stance on any issue at any time.
Senator James Manager said a specific date should be assigned
when the budget must be submitted to the National Assembly.
Saraki hailed the committee, especially for keeping the promise
to submit the report before the National Assembly goes on
recess.
Saraki added that areas that needed further consultations would
be subjected to further consultations.
He mandated that committee to liaise with the House committee
members to see how to narrow down areas of disagreement.
The two chambers of the National Assembly are set to vote on the
recommendations today.
Read more https://www.nairalaw.com/senators-set-for-showdown-over-plan-to-abolish-land-use-act/