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Constitution review: Senators endorse LG autonomy, divided over state police
The Senate Committee on Constitution Review has concluded its two-day retreat on the amendments to the 1999 constitution in Kano and agreed to include full autonomy for local governments in the country’s legal document.
The federal lawmakers, however, expressed divergent views on the issue of state police.
While those in support said insecurity would be nipped in the bud if state police is created, others said governors would use it to deal with their political opponents.
The retreat was organised by the Senate committee on constitution amendment led by the deputy Senate president, Senator Barau Jibrin, in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC).
Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central); former Chief Whip, Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South); Chairman Senate Committee on Finance, Sani Musa (APC, Niger); Senators Abdulfatai Buhari, Osita Izunaso and Ned Nwoko in their separate submissions insisted that full autonomy for local governments was long overdue.
On state police, Senator Musa who supported the idea said, “when we are talking about State Police, every state in this country is facing one insecurity or the other and I believe that if we look at the issue of State Police, it will be good for us.”
But Senator Ali Ndume said, “What we need is to increase the manpower of the police and improve their welfare for effective policing. State Police would be abused by the governors.”
On creation of additional state, Senator Izunaso said, “The most important agenda the South East Caucus in the National Assembly has is to push for equity and justice. We need an additional state in the South East so that we come to terms with other zones in the country that all have six each.”
Also, Senator Nwoko said, “The Anioma state creation for me is something that has to be done, if that is the only state that is created in this period, I will not be surprised. Agitation for Anioma state had been going on for almost 50 years, it is the oldest agitation for a state.”
President Bola Tinubu has described the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, minister Nyesom Wike as a performing and dogged technocrat.
Naijablitznews reports Tinubu made this assertion during his maiden presidential chat on Monday.
The president rounded up by saying “I doff my hat for the performing minister.
Watch clip below:
By Gloria Ikibah
Prominent human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, has been released after fulfilling his bail conditions.
Farotimi, who had been in custody over allegations of defaming Senior Advocate of Nigeria and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Afe Babalola, regained his freedom on Tuesday morning.
He is currently enroute to his home in Lagos.
Confirming the development, activist and politician Omoyele Sowore stated on X, “I am pleased to report that Dele Farotimi is no longer being held in the prison facilities of Ekiti State and is now returning home to Lagos. The struggle continues!”
Earlier, a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ado Ekiti granted Farotimi bail, setting conditions that included a N30 million bond, two sureties (one of whom must be a property owner), the submission of his passport, and a restriction on granting media interviews following his release.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Following the intervention by the National Assembly leadership, the National Assembly Service Commission, NASC, has reversed the appointment of Dr Ibrahim Atiku as Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly, DCNA.
The Commission has replaced Atiku with the permanent secretary [Estate and Works Directorate], Engineer Bashir Yero.
This was consequent upon the outcome of a meeting convened Monday night by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, with Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and their deputies in attendance.
Present also at the meeting were the Chairman of the NASC, Engineer Ahmed Amshi, two commissioners from NASC, and some permanent secretaries in the NASS bureaucracy.
THE CONCLAVE learnt that the high-level meeting took place in the Senate President’s residence.
Reports from the meeting said that the chairman of the NASC and his commissioners could not justify the appointment of Atiku when asked by the speaker how the choice of Atiku was arrived at.
THE CONCLAVE reports that it was at that point that the commission chairman sought the leave of the Senate President and the Speaker to ask that the permanent secretaries present should excuse them since they could not be sitting over a matter in which they had personal interest.
Upon their return to the room, after the leadership had arrived at a resolution one way or another, it was agreed that Engr. Bashir Yero of Estate and Works Directorate be appointed the DCNA, while Engr Sanda Liman of Procurement Directorate, be redeployed in Estate and Works.
The newly promoted Ibrahim Atiku [to the position of permanent secretary], as resolved and directed, should be deployed in Procurement Directorate.
The NASC is expected to formalise and/or activate the decision soonest.
Source: CONCLAVE
WATCH moment Tinubu hails FCT minister for his doggedness, sterling performance
BREAKING: Human Rights Lawyer Dele Farotimi Released
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