- Omits Okura, Drops Okun State in Final Submission
The Middle Belt Congress (MBC) has proposed a 2-tier government structure for Nigeria.
The position of the MBC was contained in their memorandum submitted to the Senate Adhoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution in Abuja.
In the memorandum signed by Sule Kwasau, Rev James Pam, Comrade Sunday Bala Oma and seven others, MBC proposed that local governments should no longer be governments but administrative units of States
“Local Governments should no longer be governments. They could be
called Councils, Development Areas or Burroughs. Two tiers of
government in the federation is normal, less expensive, and more
efficient.
“States may create and dissolve them to suit their capacity and needs.
“They should not be allocated direct subventions from the Federation
Revenue Account but their share should be added to that of their
States.
“They should no longer issue land titles or approve building plans as
most of them cannot afford the technical personnel required. Moreover, the Constitution vests land administration in State Governors.
“The Local Councils should have a Sheriff each and security men to
maintain law and order but without bearing arms.”
On state creation, MBC called for the creation of 18 new states. MBC’s final submission however omitted the agitation of Igala ethnic group in Kogi state for the creation of Okura state. Also, in its final submission, MBC dropped the request for the creation of Okun state.
“Sixty-one requests were submitted by various Nigerian groups to the 7th
NASS in 2012. This proves that majority of Nigerians are not satisfied with
the States that the various military governments undemocratically created.
We, therefore, agree with the recommendation of the 2014 National
Conference that the following 18 new States be created to bring the total
number in the country to 54. This will address most of the imbalances in the
military creations.
The proposed 18 new states are: Aba State from Abia State, Adada State from Enugu State, Amana State from Adamawa State, Anioma State from Delta State, Apa State from Benue State, Edu State from Niger State, Etiti State from South East Geopolitical Zone, Ghari State from Kano State, Gurara State from Kaduna State, Ijebu State from Ogun State, Kainji State from Kebbi and Niger States.
Others are; Katagum State from Jigawa State, New Oyo State from the Oyo State State, Njaba-Anim State from Anambra and Imo States, Ogoja State from Cross River State, Oil River State from Rivers State, Ose State from Edo State and Savannah State from Borno State
Aside the MBC, about 49 other groups and individuals have also submitted memoranda to the Committee.
The Deputy Senate President Omo-Agege-led Senate Committee on Constitution review had given Nigerians and other critical stakeholders a window of two weeks to make submissions to the panel.
Some of those who have submitted papers to the Committee include Prince Tony Momoh, Tope Fasua and Coalition of Federalists for Good Governance in Nigeria (CFGG) among others.
Tuesday was deadline for submission of memoranda, according to the Panel.
