Pass Law For Proper National Conference To Save Nigeria From Anarchy, Okocha Tells NASS

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former president of the
Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Onueze Okocha, has urged the
National Assembly to urgently pass a law to convoke a proper
national conference in a bid to save the country from descending
into anarchy.

Speaking on Monday, during Sunrise Daily programme on Channels
Television, the former River State commissioner for justice noted
that if Nigeria must rise above its current festering security
crisis and governance woes, it is imperative that the NASS
legislate a law to convoke a proper national conference to begin
the process of drafting a new constitution that will effectively
address the flaws in the extant one.

He said the law, which will be the basis upon which the
conference will be held, should stipulate the responsibilities for
each state in the federation, how the people’s representatives for
the conference will be selected, and how the documentation of the
conference can be translated into a constitution for the
country.

“At this critical time in Nigeria, let us not play partisan,
ethnic or tribal politics. Let us shun nepotism which has been one
of our issues in the country. Even if they are awkwardly
constituted, members of NASS should do the needful for the sake of
the country because it is falling into pieces. And they are
involved too,” he explained.

He stressed that following the complaints of people that they
were not well represented at the last national conference, every
ethnic interest should be represented in the new conference and
that the forum should among other key issues address the lopsided
structure of governance in the country and revenue allocation
formula among the three levels of government in the country.

“In the current constitution, there are too many items on the
exclusive legislative list. Currently, the NASS has functions in
both the exclusive and concurrent list. This need to be reduced
because doing so will give the states certain levels of power and
control over happenings and resources within their territories.

“The minorities in the country have often say that their
fundamental rights have been taking away from them, but when the
resources are effectively controlled and the states are given a
greater level of autonomy, they can make laws and moves that will
directly impact the lives of their people.

Speaking on the factors impeding effective checks and balances
among the three arms of government in the country, Okocha said:
“The truth is no single governor, under proper checks and balances,
can hijack the state lawmaking and enforcement bodies. But all
through the federation, the governors control the state assemblies
due to a lack of strong institutions.

“Let us have proper electoral systems in which it is the true
representatives of the people that will make up the state
assemblies.

“And then let the legislature has its own Independence and
financial autonomy just as we are clamouring for the Independence
of the Judiciary. This is because if you truly take away the power
of the release of funds from the executive, the governors and the
president won’t be able to control the legislature.”

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former president of the
Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Onueze Okocha, has urged the
National Assembly to urgently pass a law to convoke a proper
national conference in a bid to save the country from descending
into anarchy.

Speaking on Monday, during Sunrise Daily programme on Channels
Television, the former River State commissioner for justice noted
that if Nigeria must rise above its current festering security
crisis and governance woes, it is imperative that the NASS
legislate a law to convoke a proper national conference to begin
the process of drafting a new constitution that will effectively
address the flaws in the extant one.

He said the law, which will be the basis upon which the
conference will be held, should stipulate the responsibilities for
each state in the federation, how the people’s representatives for
the conference will be selected, and how the documentation of the
conference can be translated into a constitution for the
country.

“At this critical time in Nigeria, let us not play partisan,
ethnic or tribal politics. Let us shun nepotism which has been one
of our issues in the country. Even if they are awkwardly
constituted, members of NASS should do the needful for the sake of
the country because it is falling into pieces. And they are
involved too,” he explained.

He stressed that following the complaints of people that they
were not well represented at the last national conference, every
ethnic interest should be represented in the new conference and
that the forum should among other key issues address the lopsided
structure of governance in the country and revenue allocation
formula among the three levels of government in the country.

“In the current constitution, there are too many items on the
exclusive legislative list. Currently, the NASS has functions in
both the exclusive and concurrent list. This need to be reduced
because doing so will give the states certain levels of power and
control over happenings and resources within their territories.

“The minorities in the country have often say that their
fundamental rights have been taking away from them, but when the
resources are effectively controlled and the states are given a
greater level of autonomy, they can make laws and moves that will
directly impact the lives of their people.

Speaking on the factors impeding effective checks and balances
among the three arms of government in the country, Okocha said:
“The truth is no single governor, under proper checks and balances,
can hijack the state lawmaking and enforcement bodies. But all
through the federation, the governors control the state assemblies
due to a lack of strong institutions.

“Let us have proper electoral systems in which it is the true
representatives of the people that will make up the state
assemblies.

“And then let the legislature has its own Independence and
financial autonomy just as we are clamouring for the Independence
of the Judiciary. This is because if you truly take away the power
of the release of funds from the executive, the governors and the
president won’t be able to control the legislature.”