…Task National Assembly To Include It In Constitution Review
Speakers of the nation’s 36 State Houses of Assembly have urged President Bola Tinubu to undertake further measures to ameliorate the current hardship being experienced by Nigerians following the removal of fuel subsidy and other economic policies.
The Speakers under the aegis of Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria made the call in a communique they issued at the end of their meeting in Abuja on Thursday.
The Conference acknowledged the courage of the President on his economic policies taken so far such as the removal of Petroleum product subsidy and the floating of the exchange rate. However noted that “the unintended consequences of these policies are too harsh on the populace.”
They said, “We therefore, urge the Federal Government and State Governments to initiate sustainable policies with equal measure of courage to ameliorate the sufferings of the people.
The communique which was signed by their Chairman, Rt Hon Adebo Ogundoyin, pledged their support for the creation of state police and seek its inclusion in the ongoing constitution review.
Part of the Communique read, “The Conference strongly advocates for state policing to check the negative trend of insecurity in our country.
Throwing their weight behind the agitation for the establishment of state police as the best form of tackling insecurity in Nigeria, said
“To achieve this, the Conference appeals to the National Assembly, Presidency and other relevant stakeholders to leverage on the ongoing constitution review exercise”
“The Conference observed that in spite of the constitutional provisions that grant Financial Autonomy to the State Legislature, the implementation has been observed in breach.
“We therefore, call on all the relevant stakeholders to comply with all the provisions in the Constitution and not by breach.”
The state legislatures helmsmen also appealed to the gladiators in the Rivers State politics to sheath their sword.
They said, “The Conference appeals to the relevant political leaders in Rivers State to explore peaceful means to resolve the near impasse situation between the Legislative and Executive Arms of government of the state. “
The Chairmen of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Nutrition and Food Security; and Committee on Inter Parliamentary Affairs Hon Chike Okafor and Hon Mark Essiet respectively, addressed the Conference on the mandates of their committees.
