…Says 10th NASS leadership just fooling Nigerians on Constitutional Amendments
Amid growing calls for political and constitutional reforms to tackle Nigeria’s lingering challenges, a pro-democracy group under the banner: ‘Confab 2014’ has urged the Federal Government to invoke a ‘Doctrine of Necessity’ to immediately implement the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference.
In a statement issued yesterday, the group argued that Nigeria’s worsening political tensions, economic disparity, and governance loopholes demand urgent action on the far-reaching resolutions adopted by over 490 delegates during the historic National Confab convened under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The group highlighted key proposals from the conference, including the mandatory requirement for presidential candidates to hold a university degree, and the rotation of the presidency between North and South – a principle aimed at deepening inclusivity and national unity.
The Confab also recommended an automatic forfeiture of seats by any elected official who defects to another political party while in office, in a bid to curb incessant cross-carpeting which has destabilised Nigeria’s party system for decades.
Another major highlight is the call to phase out open grazing and cattle routes, replacing them with ranching – a measure widely viewed as vital to addressing perennial farmer-herder conflicts.
On the economy, the group recalled the Confab’s advice to channel excess revenue into mineral exploration nationwide and restructure the country’s fiscal sharing formula. The proposed sharing ratio would see the Federal Government receive 42.5% (down from the current 52.68%), states 35%, and local governments 22.5% — a move designed to strengthen sub-national governments and promote grassroots development.
The statement also emphasized recommendations for deeper structural adjustments, including the creation of an additional state in the South-East and 18 new states across all zones, adoption of a modified presidential system that merges presidential and parliamentary features, and reducing the cost of governance by limiting ministerial appointments and enforcing part-time legislative service.
On security, the group underscored the Confab’s provision for the establishment of state police, arguing that local law enforcement would enhance security and community trust.
Additionally, the Confab proposed bold anti-corruption measures, including the controversial recommendation that persons charged by anti-graft agencies such as the EFCC and ICPC should be presumed guilty until proven otherwise, and an outright ban on plea bargains.
Other landmark proposals include abolishing the immunity clause for elected officials in criminal cases, reintroducing the old national anthem, allowing independent candidacy, taxing religious institutions, and ending government sponsorship of pilgrimages.
The group urged President Bola Tinubu to “rise above partisan interests” and see the Confab Report as a blueprint for national survival. “At this moment in our history, Nigeria must summon the political will to implement these enduring solutions through the Doctrine of Necessity, just as it did in 2010 to resolve a leadership vacuum,” the statement read.
The 2014 National Conference remains one of Nigeria’s most extensive attempts at holistic constitutional dialogue since independence, but successive administrations have yet to act on its recommendations.
Observers say the fresh push for its implementation may face resistance in some quarters, but many agree that the unresolved issues addressed by the Confab still mirror Nigeria’s current realities.
