Vexed issues of state police, fiscal federalism, devolution of power and local government autonomy dominated talks at the two-day constitional review retreat in Asaba
Also the issues of constitutional recognition of the six political zones and the review of the Land Use Act were part of the 16 critical issues to be amended.?
Discussants at the retreat organised by the Senate Committee on Constitution Review would want all these tinkered with.
However, Senate President, David Mark assured that the Senate would not force an unacceptable Constitution down the throat of Nigerians.
But would rather? bequeath a document that reflects the wishes and have the input of all Nigerians, he said
Continuing, Mark said no Senator in the present Senate had knowledge of what would make up the Constitution after the on-going amendment of the 1999 Constitution.
The Senate President spoke while declaring open the retreat .
“The National Assembly will not foist a fait accompli on Nigerians, under the guise of Constitution review.? No Senator harbours any preconceptions as to what is to be inserted into the Constitution.?
The Constitution is for all Nigerians and not for Senators alone!? It is therefore the synthesis of the true will of the Nigerian people that will be reflected in the Constitution.”
He however stated the resolve of the Senate to resist attempts by “a vocal minority to foist its dictates on Nigerians.? The Senate will resist any such attempt.? We will certainly not permit the thunder of a fraction to drown the voice of the nation.”
The Senate President admitted that the 1999 Constitution was far from being a perfect document, as he noted that there was no plebiscite or referendum before it was promulgated by the military, adding that it was not surprising that the said Constitution was fraught with a host of contradictions, lacuna and inconsistencies.
“The inconsistencies had brought about several complaints from a cross section of Nigerians, and even from the executive branch of government, pointing out that in May, 2009, the 6th Senate commenced the process of amending it when it inaugurated the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (SCRC)”.
He explained that the work of the committee headed by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu led the passage of the Electoral Act, 2010 which he stressed, accounted for the success of the 2011 general elections to a large extent.
According to him, the 7th Senate inaugurated the present committee whose membership was drawn largely from the former committee to continue the review of the 1999 Constitution.