Oct. 1: Time to review federal structure is now — Senate Leader

As Nigeria celebrates its 64th independence anniversary, the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has declared that “there is no better time to review our federal governance structure than now with a view to creating a federation that is more efficient, functional and responsive.”

Senator Bamidele charged all leaders—political or socio-cultural, religious or traditional, community or professional—”to close ranks and come up with consensus on how to end heinous challenges undermining our collective prosperity, national harmony and political stability.”

In a statement released on the anniversary by the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs in his office, the Senate Leader said at this trying time in the nation’s history, they “must be deliberate to decisively address what easily divides us and heats up our polity in order to build a resilient federation that works for all.”

He maintained that such a united front has now become imperative at this auspicious time when the review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is underway at the National Assembly.

“We have already received 37 fresh memoranda from different interests nationwide. We are also revisiting 16 constitution alteration bills inherited from the Ninth National Assembly. Before public hearings on the constitution review take off in January 2025, we are open to more memoranda from all interests.

“Among others, we have received memoranda on the need to establish state police; adopt diaspora voting; entrench financial autonomy for local government councils; deepen independence of the judiciary; provide special seats for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly; and create the National Council of Traditional Rulers.

“More memoranda are welcome. The process for the review of the 1999 Constitution is unambiguous as enshrined in Section 9(2)(3). It is a collective approach that requires the input of not only the federal and state legislature but also the contributions of all interests across the federation.

“As we proceed with the review, we promise not to leave any interest behind in the task of forging a new path for our beloved fatherland. And Nigeria shall be better for it,” he stressed.

The Senate Leader added: “After 64 years of political independence and 110 years of corporate existence, onus now rests upon us all to focus our energy and intellect on what majorly unites us as a federation rather than what will further divide us along our ethno-political and religious fault lines.”

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