Senate Rejects Land Use Act, Affirmative Action, Devolution of Powers

The Senate on Wednesday rejected the proposal for the deletion of Land Use Act from the 1999 Constitution.

It also rejected 35 percent Affirmative Action for Women for appointive positions at both federal and state levels and devolution of powers to state houses of assemblies.

This implies that the clamour by gender activists to get 35 percent appointive positions in line with the Beijing Conference of 1995, has been officially rejected by the country.

Rejection of devolution of powers to state assemblies comes at a time there are agitations for restructuring of the country to reduce powers at the centre and give more powers to the federating units.

The legislative body also approved financial autonomy for local governments and state legislatures, independent candidates in all elections as well as removal of State Independent Electoral Commissions from the Constitution and transferring the powers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Also approved was a proposal mandating the President and state governors to appoint Ministers and Commissioners within 30 days of assumption of office and inclusion of portfolios while nominating cabinet members.

This followed clause-by-clause consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Review of the Constitution.

Federal lawmakers also lowered age requirement for elective offices.

The development comes 24 hours after hundreds of youths stormed the National Assembly, demanding that lawmakers pass the “Not Too Young to Run Bill.”

Consequently, senators reduced the age for the qualification to run for the office of the President from 40 to 35 years, retention of Senate at 35 years, governors from 35 to 30 years, House of Representatives from 30 to 25 years, House of Assembly from 30 to 25 years as well as that of chairmanship of local governments at 25 years.

Using electronic voting, 86 of 97 senators present voted in favour of the proposal, 10 rejected and one abstained.

Senators also accepted a proposal mandating the President to attend a joint session of the National Assembly once a year to deliver a state-of-the-nation address.

In all, 29 of out of 33 proposals were accepted, while three were rejected.

Other alterations accepted include the amendment of Sections 82 and 122 of the Constitution to reduce the period within which the President or the State Governor may authorise expenditure from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) from six months to three months, amendment of the Third Schedule of the Constitution to include former Senate Presidents, Speakers of House of Representatives in the composition of Council of States, abolition of State Joint Local Government Accounts, appointment of a Minister from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), changing the name of the ‘Nigeria Police Force’ to ‘Nigeria Police’, separation of the office of the Accountant General of the Federal Government from the office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

Others are: separation of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and that of the State from that of the Minister or Commissioner for Justice, placing the office of the Auditor General for the Federation and for State on first-line charges in the Consolidated Revenue Fund by making them financially independent, establishment of the Investments and Securities Tribunal under the Constitution, provision of 30 days time frame for the President or Governor to assent to a bill passed by the National Assembly or State Assemblies to indicate his refusal of assent, deletion of the Public Complaints Commission Act and National Securities Act from the Constitution.

In his remarks after the amendments, Senate President Bukola Saraki, described the exercise as ‘promise kept’.

He said the alterations will lay the foundation for reform of the country’s political, economic and social development.

His words: “We have through the amendments we have done, redefined our budget processes. We have addressed issues that have held our country down for many years. We have addressed the issue of saving money earned by the Federation which has always been an issue in this country for many years. The fact is that as a nation we now have a constitution that makes it paramount for the country to save for the rainy days. We have also by the amendments shown our commitment to the fight against corruption by providing for separation and financial autonomy for the offices of the Accountant General, Auditor-General and particularly, the Attorney General.

“More importantly also, we have opened the road for a new Nigeria where younger people can be elected into all the positions. Also, by the work we have done, we have helped to improve administration at the local government level which will strengthen our democracy by and large, ensure more credible elections by some of the provisions that we have passed.

“More importantly, we have introduced constitutional provisions that would help our judiciary in timely dispensation of Justice”.

Source; http://www.businessdayonline.com/diarrhoea-outbreak-lagos-confirms-27-cases-2-dead/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter