INDICATIONS have emerged that radical recommendations for change by various committees of the national conference, which would require constitution amendments, would meet with stiff opposition by top operators of some of the systems involved.
Nigerian Tribune can reveal that recommendations of certain committees that would fundamentally alter some arrangements in the polity were getting on the wrong side of their chieftains, now said to be making moves to ensure that the recommended changes did not materialise.
A source told the Nigerian Tribune that efforts in the past to effect such fundamental changes being proposed in the polity came to nought, because those behind them were purely on self-serving missions.
The source further noted that the current efforts at dismantling certain existing structures were also being masterminded by delegates who have personal issues with certain top operators of such system.
It was learnt that efforts would be made to frustrate the recommended changes at the National Assembly where constitution amendments would be needed to infuse them.
Allegations of personal vendetta and envy were also being raised against some of the delegates behind the proposed changes.
A source not comfortable with a certain recommendation primed to take away certain sensitive responsibility away from a high-ranking office in one of the arms of government disclosed that the planned change could still be frustrated at the point of presidential assent to the amended constitution expected to flow from the outcome of the conference.
The source pointed at the National Assembly and the presidency as two crucial points where perceived personal agenda could be easily defeated, once constitution amendments would be involved in introducing such changes, even if the larger house at the conference adopted such recommendations.
Another source wondered how referendum would be brought into the conference package without legislating such into existence, adding that the much-desired referendum must have legal platform to stand on.
Meanwhile, many senior lawyers have kicked against the recommendation by the conference committee on Law, Judiciary and Human Rights to separate the office of Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation.
Senior lawyers, who did not want their names in prints, because the issue was still at infancy stage, said they would oppose the recommendation if eventually carried out by the conference, because it would leave the polity in a state of permanent confusion.
They argued that the exercise of nolle prosequi power and its perceived abuse should not be enough reason to throw the polity into perpetual conflict that the separation would trigger.
While making their support known for serious punishment for any holder of the office who abused it, they submitted that because a particular former holder of the office allegedly used nolle prosequi to shield alleged corrupt public officials from justice would not be enough to create systemic crisis for the polity, considering the importance of the office to any administration, either military or civilian.
Memoranda disagreeing with the recommendation, to be sent to the conference leadership before the final consideration of committees’ recommendations were also reportedly being considered.
It was also gathered that the said committee had also recommended that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) be removed as the head of the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).
The body, responsible for nominating judicial officers for appointment to the National Judicial Council (NJC), is also headed by the CJN.
Past efforts to amend the constitution to reflect such a change were unsuccessful.
Source: Tribune
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