- Deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, briefs the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) on the ongoing constitution amendment
- The senator tells governors of an ongoing amendment to support devolution of powers to the states
- Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, dismisses the call for true federalism and devolution of powers
The debate on devolution of powers to the states has gotten a boost as most governors have reportedly thrown their weight behind the debate.
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The position of the governors on the issue was made known following a meeting deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, had with the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) on Wednesday, September 27, at the presidential villa where he briefed the governors on the ongoing constitution amendment to support devolution of powers to the states, The Nation reports.
Ekweremadu reportedly told the governors at the meeting that of the 33 bills on the proposed amendments, 21 were passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives, while 12 failed.
According to a statement by the media aide to the deputy Senate president, Uche Anichukwu, the senator informed governors that lawmakers were trying to build support for some of the failed bills, especially the bill on devolution of powers so as to reduce the over concentration of powers in the federal government.
NAIJ.com learnt that majority of the governors, promised to support the proposed amendment to devolve more powers to the states.
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Meanwhile, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed the call for true federalism and devolution of powers.
To him, there is nothing like true federalism because the governors already have the powers.
The Nation reports that the former president who has been travelling to promote his new book, “Making Africa Work”, told his interviewers that: “I don’t believe in true federalism. What is true federalism?”
NAIJ.com gathered that on the governors and the call for devolution of power, he said: “Why are they not accountable? What powers do they not have?
In the video below, NAIJ.com TV asked some Nigerians if they prefer the restructuring of Nigeria or break up of the country.
Source: Naij.com
ROSY CREST
Friday, 29 September 2017