The House of Representatives has disowned a trending draft ‘bill’ for discussion, seeking a return to the regional system of government.
Titled, “A Bill for an Act to substitute the annexure to Decree 24 of 1999 with a new governance model for the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the draft seeks among others, a new extant laws to be cited as “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria New Governance Model for Nigeria Act 2024.”
The document which has been trending on social media is said to have been drafted by one Dr Akin Fapohunda, who is neither a lawmaker in the Senate or the House of Representatives; an indication that the said draft legislation is a private bill.
The preliminaries of the bill read, “Whereas Nigeria, its peoples and government have been governed under Decree 24 of 1999 that was handed down by the then Military Government without the express consent of the people despite the preamble of ‘we the people.’
“Whereas the said Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) is not autochthonous as it does not evolve from the deliberations and consensus of the Nigerian People;
“Whereas the peoples of Nigeria now desire and effectively demand for a change to a constitution based on federal/regional system of government;
“Whereas the federal and regional governments are to operate within the provisions of this Constitution, it is within the discretion of the ethnic blocs within the states that constitutes a given region to aggregate or disaggregate as provinces, divisions and districts, while being in control of their affairs without let or hindrance at whatever level of governance;
“Whereas the 1999 Constitution as amended is a schedule of a military decree now deemed to be an Act of the National Assembly for which the National Assembly has the powers to amend and/or abrogate as expedient;
“Whereas the National Assembly where so necessary and expedient can invoke the doctrine of necessity to resolve any point of law for the good governance of the country Nigeria;
“Therefore, the National Assembly do hereby invoke its inherent powers to expunge the schedule attached to decree 24 of 1999 often referred to as 1999 Constitution as amended from the decree, which is now deemed to be an Act of the National Assembly to which the National Assembly have the powers to so do; and replace same with a new governance model for Nigeria effective not later than October 1, 2024.”
The proposed amendment, according to the draft bill, would be subject to a voice vote in a referendum by Nigerians.
Part II (2) read, “This amendment is subject to a yes or no vote in a referendum by the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Part III (1) of the draft bill provides that “Every ethnic nationality and people in Nigeria has an unconditional right to self-determination within here delineated territories.
“(2) The sovereignty, powers and authority to formulate the articles of association towards any reform of the Central Federal Government of Nigeria, at any other time shall lie jointly and severally with all the ethnic nationalities occupying their respective territories.
“(3) Every ethnic nationality and people in Nigeria has the right to a full measure of self-government which includes the right to establish institutions of government in the territory it inhabits and to equitable representation in the federal and regional governments.”
Dismissing the draft bill in a telephone conversation with our correspondent, House spokesman, Akin Rotimi said, “The Committees on Rules and Business and Constitution Review have confirmed that there is no such bill received before them.”
Similarly, the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive told Saturday PUNCH that the said bill is not before the closing.
He said, “There are two routes to making presentations for constitutional amendments. One is by Honourable members proposing an amendment bill during plenary. The second is by memoranda from individuals and groups to the Constitution Review Committee
“Please, note that memoranda submitted should eventually come by way of bills sponsored by a member of the committee.
On this specific memo (draft bill) under reference, I doubt if it has come before the Rules and Business Committee for listing. I speak as chairman of the committee.”
Meanwhile, the man behind the bill spoke with our correspondent exclusively on the matter on Friday.
Dr Fapohunda told our correspondent that he retired from the public service as a director in the Presidency.
“I have a PhD in Agricultural Science but I am into Information and Communication Technology. I have been involved in constitution drafting for years,” he said.
Introduction over, Dr Fapohunda gave reason for coming up with the draft bill.
“The President this week returned us to the old national anthem. At independence, Nigeria embraced a regional system of government. So, I felt we could also revisit the past and return to regionalism.
‘I have done a preliminary draft for Nigerians to ponder over. Next week, I will be seeing my representative in the House of Representatives. We hope that Senators and House members can embrace this modest proposal for a change.
“If this is acceptable, we can then sit down and do a proper drafting of the bill,” he said.
The bill further proposed that “The National Assembly shall produce a new Federal Constitution for Nigeria within six calendar months of this Act being effective. It shall be done by a technical committee based on the synthesis of all previous enactments and results of constitutional conferences as may be in conformity with the provisions and stipulations in this Act.
“The National Assembly shall transmit the enactment to the respective State Assemblies for passage with a simple majority vote
“On ratification by a simple majority of State Assemblies, the new Federal Constitution for Nigeria shall be voted upon by all Nigerians of voting age. With a simple majority vote, the New Constitution shall be deemed to have been passed by the People of Nigeria.”
