By Joseph Edegbo –
Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL) has begun a nationwide mobilisation of Nigerians to advocate for consideration and ratification of the constitution amendment Bills transmitted to State legislatures by the National Assembly.
In Kaduna, critical stakeholders including CSOs, the Media, NBA, NULGE, ALGON, NLC, ASUU Women group, People With Disabilities and Representatives of the State legislature, converged on Bafra Hotel , Thursday to map out strategies for Advocacy for the passage of the bills by the State House of Assembly.
The bills are Local Government Financial and Administrative Autonomy, Legislative and Judicial Financial Autonomy as well as Institutionalization of Legislative
Bureaucracy.
The convergence noted that the lack of independence by the local government, the legislature and the Judiciary, had hindered the institutions from effectively performing their responsibilities.
The Stakeholders strongly believe that if State Houses of Assembly passed a resolution in favour of the bills, like the Local government autonomy, it would contribute to inclusive development, ensure more political stability and security in the country.
They also spoke of the strong need to strengthen financial autonomy of both the State Houses of Assembly and the Judiciary, pointing out that if these institutions are independent , they would play their constitutional role of checks and balances over the executive.
A lot of Houses of Assembly, the Stakeholders noted, can not carry out their responsibilities effectively because they lack financial and Administrative Autonomy.
“We feel that if these bills are passed, they will make these institutions independent, have control over their resources and able to perform their responsibilities , contribute to sustain our democracy, improving the quality of service delivery and impacting the living standard of ordinary Nigerians.
The Citizens reminded the lawmakers that the bills will not only benefit the ordinary Nigerians but themselves by providing them better opportunity to represent their constituents, become more popular and attract better development to their communities.
The Stakeholders therefore appealed to the Kaduna State House of Assembly to join hands to see that the democracy being enjoyed is sustained, while the real purpose of governance which is the security and welfare of the people is actualized.
It could be recalled that at the amendment of the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly, 68 bills were considered, 44 were passed, 2 passed with amendment while 22 failed to pass.
Out of the 44 bills that were passed, the Citizens are set to lobby and influence through advocacy for 3 to the Kaduna State House of Assembly. These are the independent of the Local government, the legislature and the Judiciary.