Restructuring: APC’s NWC wants panel report implemented before 2019 polls

The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress
has commenced deliberations on the report of the Governor Nasir
el-Rufai-led panel on True Federalism.

Our reporter gathered that the party decided that it would
advise President Muhammadu Buhari to implement aspects of the
report that would not require constitution amendments.

It was learnt that the APC would urge the Federal Government to
direct the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission
to fashion out a new revenue allocation formula before the 2019
elections.

It was gathered that the deliberations featured prominently at
an executive session of the NWC which was held at the private
residence of the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun,
in Abuja, on Monday.

The meeting, which began at about 2pm away from the prying eyes
of reporters, lasted till about 7.38pm.

Although details of the deliberations on the subject were
sketchy as of the time of filing this report, our correspondent
learnt that the party leaders deliberated on the aspects of the
panel’s report which could be implemented before the start of the
electioneering.

A top ranking member of the party, who spoke on condition of
anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media said,
“As you know, there are aspects of the report that can be
implemented by the executive without rigorous constitutional
amendments.

“For example, the committee recommended that the Federal
Government should urgently direct the Revenue Mobilisation,
Allocation and Fiscal Commission to among others fashion out a new
revenue allocation formula in accordance with the provisions of the
1999 Constitution as amended, which envisages a periodic review of
the formula. That could be a good start.

“The normal thing to do for carrying this out is for the RMAFC
to recommend a new formula to the President for deliberation/
approval at the Federal Executive Council before it is forwarded to
the National Assembly for approval.

“The NWC equally deliberated on the proposals being made to the
amendment of the party’s constitution especially aspects designed
to strengthen leadership’s powers to discipline erring
members.”

Although the issue of the appointment of Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu to
head the APC Presidential reconciliation committee was not on the
agenda, it was gathered that some members expressed their
reservations.

Another party leader, who also spoke on condition of anonymity
for fear of retribution said, “While the President’s intervention
is welcome and in fact, long overdue, it will be difficult for us
at this point to accept any proposal that will substantially alter
the progress we have made in reconciling with aggrieved
members.”

When contacted, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC,
Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, who confirmed that the meeting held,
explained that it was basically to fine-tune preparations for the
party’s National Executive Council meeting scheduled to hold on
February 27.

He said, “Our meeting was basically to prepare the ground for
our NEC meeting; we looked at the (proposals for) constitution
amendments, the Restructuring Committee report and other activities
ahead of our national convention in June, that’s all.

“We had to go through the constitutional amendment and all that
in preparation for the NEC meeting.”

In response to a question as to whether President Buhari
consulted the NWC before Tinubu was appointed, he said, “The issue
of Asiwaju’s appointment was not on the agenda. Yes, the party was
not consulted but we don’t feel the need to be consulted. We are
happy and it is a positive development, it is neither strange nor
new.

“When the leader of the party feels there is a need to reconcile
party members across the country, he sets up an extraordinary panel
or committee to deal with the problem.

“That’s why I feel he may have wanted to supervise the process
himself but because of other commitments – he is the President of
the whole country now not just the leader of the APC.

“It is quite appropriate for him to bring someone to do it on
his behalf. We don’t feel the need for the President to ask for our
clearance before he does that. We are happy that he has done that
and we are willing to work with Asiwaju to find solutions to some
of these problems as we prepare for the next elections.”

Asked whether Asiwaju had contacted the party leadership since
his appointment, Abdullahi said, “He just got the assignment, he
has to do his own background preparations, he will contact us when
he is ready.”

The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress
has commenced deliberations on the report of the Governor Nasir
el-Rufai-led panel on True Federalism.

Our reporter gathered that the party decided that it would
advise President Muhammadu Buhari to implement aspects of the
report that would not require constitution amendments.

It was learnt that the APC would urge the Federal Government to
direct the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission
to fashion out a new revenue allocation formula before the 2019
elections.

It was gathered that the deliberations featured prominently at
an executive session of the NWC which was held at the private
residence of the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun,
in Abuja, on Monday.

The meeting, which began at about 2pm away from the prying eyes
of reporters, lasted till about 7.38pm.

Although details of the deliberations on the subject were
sketchy as of the time of filing this report, our correspondent
learnt that the party leaders deliberated on the aspects of the
panel’s report which could be implemented before the start of the
electioneering.

A top ranking member of the party, who spoke on condition of
anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media said,
“As you know, there are aspects of the report that can be
implemented by the executive without rigorous constitutional
amendments.

“For example, the committee recommended that the Federal
Government should urgently direct the Revenue Mobilisation,
Allocation and Fiscal Commission to among others fashion out a new
revenue allocation formula in accordance with the provisions of the
1999 Constitution as amended, which envisages a periodic review of
the formula. That could be a good start.

“The normal thing to do for carrying this out is for the RMAFC
to recommend a new formula to the President for deliberation/
approval at the Federal Executive Council before it is forwarded to
the National Assembly for approval.

“The NWC equally deliberated on the proposals being made to the
amendment of the party’s constitution especially aspects designed
to strengthen leadership’s powers to discipline erring
members.”

Although the issue of the appointment of Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu to
head the APC Presidential reconciliation committee was not on the
agenda, it was gathered that some members expressed their
reservations.

Another party leader, who also spoke on condition of anonymity
for fear of retribution said, “While the President’s intervention
is welcome and in fact, long overdue, it will be difficult for us
at this point to accept any proposal that will substantially alter
the progress we have made in reconciling with aggrieved
members.”

When contacted, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC,
Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, who confirmed that the meeting held,
explained that it was basically to fine-tune preparations for the
party’s National Executive Council meeting scheduled to hold on
February 27.

He said, “Our meeting was basically to prepare the ground for
our NEC meeting; we looked at the (proposals for) constitution
amendments, the Restructuring Committee report and other activities
ahead of our national convention in June, that’s all.

“We had to go through the constitutional amendment and all that
in preparation for the NEC meeting.”

In response to a question as to whether President Buhari
consulted the NWC before Tinubu was appointed, he said, “The issue
of Asiwaju’s appointment was not on the agenda. Yes, the party was
not consulted but we don’t feel the need to be consulted. We are
happy and it is a positive development, it is neither strange nor
new.

“When the leader of the party feels there is a need to reconcile
party members across the country, he sets up an extraordinary panel
or committee to deal with the problem.

“That’s why I feel he may have wanted to supervise the process
himself but because of other commitments – he is the President of
the whole country now not just the leader of the APC.

“It is quite appropriate for him to bring someone to do it on
his behalf. We don’t feel the need for the President to ask for our
clearance before he does that. We are happy that he has done that
and we are willing to work with Asiwaju to find solutions to some
of these problems as we prepare for the next elections.”

Asked whether Asiwaju had contacted the party leadership since
his appointment, Abdullahi said, “He just got the assignment, he
has to do his own background preparations, he will contact us when
he is ready.”