Speaker Lebo expresses optimism at LG, House of Assembly autonomy in ongoing Constitutional Amendment

Efio-Ita Nyok|12 January 2018 

The Speaker of the 8th Cross River State House of Assembly, Mr John Gaul Lebo has expressed optimism that the fifteen alterations made by the National Assembly in ongoing Constitutional Amendment will scale through especially alterations 2, 3 & 4 which has to do with Local Government autonomy and the financial autonomy of the thirty-six State Houses of Assemblies respectively NegroidHaven can say. 

The speaker made this known recently in a town hall meeting/public hearing put together by the Cross River State House of Assembly on the Constitutional Amendment procedure by the National Assembly. 

  

In his opening speech, Lebo shed light on the 15 alterations that has been proposed by the National Assembly and asked constituents present to feel free to air out their views on any matter as it boardered on the 15 items listed while emphasising on the 2nd alteration proposed by the National Assembly. Lebo said:

‘This particular alteration is necessary because the legislature had always depended on the executive for funding and as such slowed several processes in the legislative arm and at the end you people will say we are rubber stamp…

‘We will continue to be rubber stamp if this alteration is not done’, Lebo concluded.

Speaking with journalist at the end of the event Lebo, said

‘The purpose of this session is to clear our mind and then allow for imputes from our constituents on the various provisions on the 15 alterations as transmitted by NASS neutralise our brain and allow our constituents give us their imputes.

The town hall meeting which was well attended had the entire 25 state constituencies of Crosss River state voting in affirmation to all the 15 alterations except for Akpabuyo state constituency who were indifferent with alteration 8 and 12 which states thus:

 8. A bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to change the name Nigeria Police Force to “Nigeria Police” to reflect their core mandate of providing civil services; and for related matters.

12. A bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to reflect the establishment and core functions of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps; and other related matters.

Abi state constituency also voted a ‘No’ to Alteration 3 which has to do with local Government Autonomy. Also voting a ‘No’ was Boki 1 and Calabar South 1 state constituencies who said they were not in support of alteration 7 which has to do with independent candidature.

Also in the list of those who voted a ‘No’ is Yakkur 1 state Constituency. They voted ‘No’ to some items in the alteration list such as Alteration 2, 3 and 7.

The 15 Alterations which will need 25 out of the 36 States houses of Assembly in the Federation to give them a nod before they see the light of the day include the following: