the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, at a meeting in
Abuja.
The need to review the extant definition of Federal
Character in the Nigerian constitution has become more pertinent,
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has
said.
Gbajabiamila made the remark on Saturday while declaring open
the Young Parliamentarians Forum (YPF) National Strategy Meeting
and Retreat in Abuja.
“In thinking outside the box, I think we should consider an
amendment in the constitution to the definition of Federal
Character because when we talk about Federal Character within the
context of appointments, infrastructure and the rest of it in the
constitution, Federal Character as it is, is limited to where you
are from, like your ethnicity,” he told the gathering.
He added, “In other words, the Constitution says that
appointment and all those other things shall be based on Federal
Character and Federal Character as we know it now, we have the
Igbos, we have the Hausas, the Yorubas; there should be a
geographical spread.”
According to the lawmaker, the Federal Character is at variance
with the nation’s realities as it limits national opportunities to
geographical location alone without consideration for gender,
persons living with disabilities, and age classification.
He challenged young legislators on charting a course in
preparation for the Nigerian youth taking the mantle of leadership
at all levels of government in the country.
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The speaker believes it is time to expand the definition of
Federal Character because the character of a nation is not just
based on tribe but on religion, ethnic background, gender, and
age.
“So, when you are talking about Federal Character, you look at
all those things and they are what make up the Federal Character,”
he said.
Gbajabiamila commended the YPF for the initiative of taking up
youth matters and challenged the young lawmakers on proffering
answers to some pertinent questions.
The Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Olatunde Ojo, on his
part, stated that there was no better time than now for the retreat
considering the nationwide youth restiveness that followed the
#EndSARS protests.
He also urged the group to chart a result-oriented course that
would be of benefit to Nigerian youths.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of YPF, Kabir Tukura, noted
that the forum visited the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo,
and Gbajabiamila and it was agreed that the forum should come up
with a white paper to be submitted to President Muhammadu
Buhari.
Tukura added that Nigerian youths deserve a voice in the country
and deserved to be heard and treated fairly.
Read more https://swordpress.com.ng/2020/11/01/gbajabiamila-proposes-amendment-to-federal-character-laws/