Constitution review reflects the aspirations of Nigerians – CAN

The Christian Affiliation of Nigeria, CAN, has expressed hope that the present structure overview train will genuinely replicate the aspirations of Nigerians to show pundits’ damaging perceptions mistaken.

CAN pledged to assist the train geared toward making certain that the present train meets nationwide curiosity by transcending self-seeking pursuits of the political elite as canvassed in some quarters.

A memorandum on the overview of the 1999 structure submitted to the committee, the President, Christian Affiliation of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo Adeniyi Ayokunle, mentioned, “We consider in a steady, affluent and virile Nigeria the place all residents train their rights, duties and privileges as anticipated in any vibrant participatory democracy.”

CAN famous that they’re satisfied that now’s essentially the most auspicious of instances to contemplate with proactive mindset so as to handle the state, nature and character of the union of Nigeria, including that it’s time to reappraise the federal construction to keep away from these components within the nation’s authorized and coverage frameworks that always make Nigeria seem unitary in orientation.

In response to CAN, “We additional consider that the aware devolution of powers shall facilitate effectiveness and effectivity in governance providers supply and [shall] obtain discount within the general price of governance within the nation.”

CAN proposed a Confederation of Unbiased Areas, or a Federation of States or areas, or an modern mixture of each.

The affiliation believed that so as to handle and replicate the proposed Confederal/Federal buildings, it known as for amendments and alterations to Part 2 (6), 3 (1), (2), (3) (4) and (5) and every other related sections.

To acknowledge and replicate the heterogeneous character of the Nigerian-state, CAN steered that there shall be a brand new subsection the indigenous communities and ethnic nationalities, as captured within the File of Ethnic Nationalities offered for in a Schedule of the Structure.

It additionally steered true and real follow of Federalism in Nigeria past the nominal references with unitary orientation and clauses embedded within the Structure, saying that overview of the Legislative Itemizing by reassigning the contents of the Unique, Concurrent and Residual Lists contained within the Second Schedule of the 1999 Structure.

It added that devolution and decentralization of energy and governance system by formal introduction of Geopolitical Zones/Areas into the Structure with clearly assigned roles (as enshrined in 1963 Structure), declaring that CAN assist regionalism with every area having Authorized and Coverage Frameworks encapsulated in a Regional Structure in conformity with the Structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The affiliation said that modern decision of challenges related to Presidential System in heterogeneous Nigeria by the adoption a framework that encapsulates the ethos of strict fastened time period tenure, shared imaginative and prescient, joint-problems fixing and ensures stability by decreasing partisan political tensions related to contestations for energy.

To this finish, CAN proposed the institution of a systemic Collegiate Presidency, that’s, Presidential Council with fastened 12 years tenure, stressing that the proposed Presidential Council shall have every zone represented by an elected Vice-President that serves on the collegiate that shall represent the core of the Presidency with every taking turns as President in rotational format with every individual serving for two years at an occasion through the cycle.

“The Chairman of the proposed Presidential Council shall fulfill the obligations of Head of State and Head of Authorities. The opposite 5 (or relying on the variety of areas finally adopted) shall in rotation serve and be in-charge of Inside, International Affairs, Sources (Finance), Defence and Transportation. Throughout the cycle after elections, there shall be enough safety of tenure for Council members. This could allow them develop insurance policies for implementation for minimal of 12 years,” CAN opined.

CAN mentioned that with out prejudice to the proposal for the elimination of the itemizing of Native Authorities Areas (LGAs) in any a part of the Structure, it affirmed and acknowledge their retention as a tier of presidency connected to the states, geopolitical zone or area and current at their behest.

Following the elevated breaches in security characterized by weak capacity of security and law enforcement agencies to correctly label and manage the security breaches in terms of crimes and criminalities, there is the need to review the constitutional bases of the national security and defence management architecture in order to beat the related challenges.

To this finish, CAN proposed the necessity to present constitutional backing for the operational decentralization and regionalization practiced by security and law enforcement agencies in the country so as to extricate them from the grips of the unitary command and management of the central authorities by making them replicate the spirit of federalism.

It careworn the necessity for enough funding, equipping and steady coaching for
efficient safety and legislation enforcement to develop into efficient and environment friendly when the operators are aware of and function based mostly on the provisions of authorized and coverage frameworks.

It famous the necessity to facilitate authorized and judicial reforms as means of constructing problems with Justice as a logical panacea for many challenges bedeviling the nation, the proposed amendments ought to additional reinforce the sooner proposed restructuring of the character and character of the union.

It suggests the redefinition of Courts of Superior Jurisdiction to accommodate for the proposed Regional/Zonal System, which ought to equally have their respective appellate construction like Regional Excessive Courts, Regional Court of Appeal, (and Regional Supreme Court docket); retain the construction of Federal Excessive Courts, Court docket of Attraction (because the Federal Court docket of Attraction) and Supreme Court docket of Nigeria and institution of Courts based mostly on the respective Constitutions of the Areas.
Repeal Part 6 (6) (c) of the 1999 Structure.

CAN welcome proactive constitutional reforms and measures that shall additional cut back the negativities typically related to elections in Nigeria realizing that the contestations for energy and coordination of democratic regime change and succession have continued to contribute negatively to the processes of nation constructing by exacerbating insecurity, inflicting political tensions and violence.

CAN additionally steered that Electoral Administration System ought to now replicate the proposed Regional – Federal construction, saying that INEC shall deal with All Presidential and National Assembly Elections whereas Regional Electoral Commissions shall deal with regional, state and native authorities council elections.

On immunity, CAN proposed that every one constitutional provisions shall replicate the precept of equality earlier than the legislation, saying that amending the provisions of Part 308 to permit for the introduction that officers lined shall not be construed to imply being immune from investigation for felony acts dedicated throughout their tenure.

It mentioned there isn’t any want to offer for the immunity of the principal officers of NASS since they’re representatives of the folks topic to the recall provisions of Part 69 of the Structure.