The Senate president
and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and their deputies, would be
entitled to life pensions once they quit office; and presidents and governors,
as well their deputies, will no longer be eligible for twin four-year terms, according
to constitution amendment proposals submitted by a Senate review committee
Wednesday.
Under
the law, a single six-year term will replace the current double four-year terms
for chief executives; but serving president and vice, Goodluck Jonathan and
Namadi Sambo, and serving governors, will not be eligible for the provision.
However,
Senate President David Mark, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu; as well Speaker
Aminu Tambuwal and deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, will be the first beneficiaries of
the life pension, provided they are not impeached from office.
The
current 1999 constitution only allows life pension for the president and vice.
The
far-reaching recommendations proposed by a review committee headed by Mr.
Ekweremadu are far from becoming laws as they are yet to be debated and
approved by the senate plenary, concurred by the House of Reps and assented to
by at least 24 state Houses of Assembly.
But
the proposals detail sweeping changes to Nigeria’s law books that if all
approved, will touch on nearly all key sections of the executive, legislature
and the judiciary arms of government.
The
senate’s submission will be considered when the chamber resumes from a two-week
break, and the House said it will receive and debate its report when it
reconvenes.
The
senate committee said the single term clause was necessary for chief
executives, to deal with the “distraction” often associated by re-election
bids.
“Considering
the financial expenses often associated with the re-election and to ensure that
executive heads are freed from the distractions to be able to concentrate on
public policy issues, a provision for a single term of six years for president
and governors is made,” Mr. Ekweremadu said.
The
committee’s review focused on limiting the often overbearing powers of
presidents and governors.
Under
the new constitution, governors will no longer be able to control local
government funds or refuse elections at the third tier as the shared account
between local governments and states will be abolished to allow local
governments to receive direct payments from the consolidated account.
Benefiting
councils will be those democratically elected, a stipulation that targets
governors’ penchant for foisting caretaker committees on the councils for years
without elections.
The
law also separates the office of the Attorney General of the Federation from
that of the Minister of Justice, with provisions that insulate the Attorney
General from the influence of the president.
If
passed, federal attorney general, as well as states’, will have powers to order
investigations.
The
attorneys general will serve for seven years single term maximum and funding to
that office will be drawn on first line charge- not subject to the
appropriation of the National Assembly or respective state assemblies.
Under
the proposed constitution, while the president and governors retain their
rights to sign or withhold their assents to bills coming from the national or
state assemblies, such discretion must be communicated to the respective
legislature within 30 days otherwise, the passed bill becomes law
automatically.
The
provisions also detail clear procedures for a vice president or a deputy
governor to succeed a late president or one incapable of taking the oath or
discharging the requirements of the office- an effort targeted at avoiding a
repeat of the controversies of the late Umaru Yar’Adua presidency and the
transition to President Jonathan.
The
senate said under exigencies of death, incapacitation, or others, the vice
president or deputy governors will ascend to power and complete the term, but
will no longer be qualified to stand for election to the office of the
president or governor.
If
such provision had been in place, President Jonathan would be ineligible for
election in 2015.
The
review also replaces the word “Force” in the Nigerian Police Force wit
“Service”.
The
president’s powers were further nipped with the establishment of the Mayor and
Deputy Mayor of Abuja, an office that will be independent of the president and
will be elective.
Offices
to benefit from first line charge funding, also rose from the present
three-National Assembly, Independent National Electoral Commission, and the
Courts – to include Attorney-General of the Federation; Auditor-General of the
Federation; Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal, Commission; and
National Human Rights Commission; efforts directed at stripping the offices of
influence of the president.
0 comments:
Post a Comment