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NASS To Drop Resource Control, State Creation

By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi Assistant Editor, Abuja

Plans for state creation and an increase in resource control from 13 per cent to 50 per cent may have suffered a setback in the Constitution amendment proposal.

Lawmakers, it was learnt at the weekend, do not agree on the two issues, particularly state creation, citing pressure from a section of the country.

A member of the House of Representatives Constitution Review Committee (CRC) said there is no time to embark on creation of states, as the year is almost gone.

He reiterated that the two proposals require the approval of at least two thirds of the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as state Houses of Assembly.

"There is no time to do all that. Already, politicking has started for 2011. There is just no time for state creation now. Maybe the next National Assembly (NASS) may embark on that. For now, that chapter is closed, I can tell you authoritatively," he insisted.

It was learnt that the issues have divided the NASS.

The setting up in July of a State Creation Forum by the two Chambers notwithstanding, some legislators are threatening to scuttle the whole Constitution amendment if the two items are removed from the agenda.

Those in this camp are mainly from the South.

However, another camp comprising Northerners insists that the two issues must be dropped.

To stave off opposition from within the NASS, and to adopt a middle line between the two groups, the Chairmen of both CRCs may have resolved to expunge state creation and resource control.

The Senate CRC has engaged civil societies, under the auspices of Electoral Reform Network (ERN), on clauses to be amended in the Constitution.

Edetaen Ojo, ERN National Executive, told the Committee that, "Electoral reform is an absolute necessity if we are to have better elections in 2011 and be spared avoidable violent protests that are inevitable should the reform not happen."

Another source said the leadership of the NASS believes that efforts should be made to address the "fears of certain powerful forces from a section of the country" who are determined to truncate the exercise.

To ensure a soft landing for the Constitution review, it was agreed that the sensitive items be set aside for now.

"It was resolved that we move from the less critical items in a progressive form, so that we make the amendments one after another. There is also another thinking that we should just restrict ourselves to those Bills sent in by President Umaru Yar'Adua.

"But others are saying that since the entire process will pass through the same Constitution amendment procedure, we can take a lot more issues."

The Senate has taken a step in that direction by considering Yar'Adua's Bill to amend the Constitution, and another Bill to establish an Electoral Offences Commission (EOC).

No fewer than 10 communities visited the NASS between June and July to lobby for the creation of new states.

NASS To Drop Resource Control, State Creation