Ekweremadu appleals to state legislatures

The Deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, has urged state
houses of assembly to act on the constitutional amendment bills
before them to ensure better governance and greater future for
Nigeria.

Ekweremadu, who made the call in his New Year message issued by
his media aide, Uche Anichukwu, said the constitution alteration
bills currently before the state houses of assembly were very
critical to the nation’s development and therefore urged the state
legislators to uphold national interest and follow their
conscience.

He said, “Currently before the state assemblies are bills for
compulsory saving of 10 per cent of revenues paid into the
Federation Account and which must not be tampered with for at least
five years in order to build a saving culture for the rainy
day.

“Reduction of the period within which a president or governor
may authorise the withdrawal of monies from the Consolidated
Revenue Fund in absence of an Appropriation Act or budget from six
to three months; a uniform tenure of three years for local
government councils; financial autonomy for state assemblies as
well as abrogation of Joint State Local Government Account and
establishment of a Consolidated State Revenue Fund from which the
assemblies and local governments would directly access their
funds.

“Others include a 30-day time frame from the day of inauguration
within which the president or governor must submit the names of
ministerial or commissioner nominees to the National Assembly or
state assemblies along with their proposed portfolios, independent
candidacy, reduction of age qualification for the office of the
president from 40 years to 35 years, reduction of the age
qualification for the offices of House of Representatives and State
Assembly from 35 to 25, and setting a time frame for the
determination of pre-election matters, among other critical
electoral reforms.

“These and other proposed amendments, some of which also border
on judicial reforms, already passed by the National Assembly, are
critical to the future, good governance, and development of the
country.

“Therefore, I can only enjoin our colleagues at the state
assemblies to follow their conscience and act in the national
interest.”

The Deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, has urged state
houses of assembly to act on the constitutional amendment bills
before them to ensure better governance and greater future for
Nigeria.

Ekweremadu, who made the call in his New Year message issued by
his media aide, Uche Anichukwu, said the constitution alteration
bills currently before the state houses of assembly were very
critical to the nation’s development and therefore urged the state
legislators to uphold national interest and follow their
conscience.

He said, “Currently before the state assemblies are bills for
compulsory saving of 10 per cent of revenues paid into the
Federation Account and which must not be tampered with for at least
five years in order to build a saving culture for the rainy
day.

“Reduction of the period within which a president or governor
may authorise the withdrawal of monies from the Consolidated
Revenue Fund in absence of an Appropriation Act or budget from six
to three months; a uniform tenure of three years for local
government councils; financial autonomy for state assemblies as
well as abrogation of Joint State Local Government Account and
establishment of a Consolidated State Revenue Fund from which the
assemblies and local governments would directly access their
funds.

“Others include a 30-day time frame from the day of inauguration
within which the president or governor must submit the names of
ministerial or commissioner nominees to the National Assembly or
state assemblies along with their proposed portfolios, independent
candidacy, reduction of age qualification for the office of the
president from 40 years to 35 years, reduction of the age
qualification for the offices of House of Representatives and State
Assembly from 35 to 25, and setting a time frame for the
determination of pre-election matters, among other critical
electoral reforms.

“These and other proposed amendments, some of which also border
on judicial reforms, already passed by the National Assembly, are
critical to the future, good governance, and development of the
country.

“Therefore, I can only enjoin our colleagues at the state
assemblies to follow their conscience and act in the national
interest.”