SIX-YEAR SINGLE TENURE LIKELY FOR PRESIDENT, OTHERS

The Senate Constitution Review Committee has recommended that President Goodluck Jonathan and returning governors should be disallowed from seeking another term in office if single-term tenure of six years is adopted as an amendment to the 1999 Constitution on or before 2015.

Besides Jonathan, the Vice-President, 16 governors and deputy governors may end their tenure by 2015.

Governors recently elected for second term may also end their tenure in 2015.

But the recommendation has led to a protest by Niger Delta senators, who see it as another ploy by the North to stop Jonathan.

Also, the Senate Committee has resolved to separate the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) from the Office of the Minister of Justice.

The Minister of Justice will be a political office holder, but the AGF will be a lawyer, who will have a seven-year tenure.

The AGF will outlive the administration that appointed him or her.

Other highlights of the resolutions of the committee are abolition of Joint Account; First Line funding of local governments; withholding of statutory allocations of states without democratically elected governments in local government areas; rejection of rotational presidency and six geopolitical zones; and placing State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) on First Line charge.

According to sources, the Senate Committee has opted for a single six-year term in office for President, Vice-President, governors and deputy governors.

A source in the committee, who spoke on the recommendations, said: “We approved a single term of six years, with a proviso that all incumbents that are entitled to second term will not be allowed to run or enjoy it.

“By implication, the President, the Vice-President, governors and their deputies are banned from contesting for their offices in 2015 or their tenure will end the day the amendment to the Constitution takes effect.

“We took cognisance of the fact that there was a similar amendment in the US to a two-term tenure system, the then President was banned from benefiting.”

But it was gathered that the Senators from Niger Delta protested against the proviso by alleging that it is a ploy to stop the President from benefiting.

The source added: “The Senators from Niger Delta took it personal by alleging that it is targeted at frustrating Jonathan’s second term by the North.

“But other Senators took time to explain to their colleagues from Niger Delta that the amendment will affect governors and deputy governors across all parties.”

It was also gathered that governors, especially those seeking second term, are uncomfortable with the proviso on the single-term of six years.

The source said: “Since amendment to 1999 Constitution requires the backing of two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly, the governors may not allow the proviso to be passed into law.

“The challenge before the Senate Committee is to sell the merits in the proposal to the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).”

On other proposed amendments, the source said: “The Senate Committee has decided to separate the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation from the Minister of Justice, who is essentially a political office holder.

“The AGF will now be in charge of the protection of the nation’s laws, which is purely a professional calling. The AGF is expected to hold office for seven years beyond the tenure of a sitting President who must have appointed him or her. So, the AGF is now insulated from politics.”

Regarding local government autonomy, the source said: “The Committee noted that in all its study tours, there is no where local government system is a tier of government. So, the local government areas will still be under the states.

“But because Nigerians complained about how states are diverting local government funds, the Senate Committee has recommended that the 774 local governments should receive their statutory allocations directly. So, the Senate Committee has abolished Joint Account.

“Also, any state without democratically elected government at local government level will henceforth have the accruable statutory allocations to local governments in the state withheld.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “The Senate Committee has rejected recommendation to create six geopolitical zones and to put rotational clause in the constitution.

“The Senate Committee also agreed that there is no need to make law for indigeneship or citizenship because there are enough sections in the 1999 Constitution which guarantee the right to citizenship but Nigerians are mot taking advantage of it.

“Some issues are also now on concurrent list. These are railway, environment, road safety, stamp duties, healthcare and others.

“The funds for State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) will now be on First Line Charge to make them more independent and conduct free and fair polls.”

Asked what the committee agreed on state creation, state police and special status for Lagos, the source said: “These issues have been deferred till next week.”

Source: The Nation