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From Sola Ojo, Abuja
The Coalition of Indigenous Ethnic Nationalities (CIEN) has recommended the creation of additional states and the implementation of the United Nations of Nigeria idea to give every citizen a sense of belonging.
The Coalition also addressed the concerns around possible increasing governance finance by recommending a sharing formula or ratio of 20%:80% for the Federal Government and Regional
Councils; and a sharing formula or ratio of 25%:45%:30% for Regional Councils,
State Governments and Local Governments.
A copy of the recommendation sent to President Bola Tinubu and the leaderships of the Nigerian Senate, and the House of Representatives respectively, and the media strongly believed that the time to restructure Nigeria was now.
An accompanying text signed on behalf of the CIEN by Prof. Benjamin Okaba, Mr. Timothy B. Gandu, and Mr. Nubari Saatah; Chairman, Co-Chairman, and Secretary respectively argued that it is difficult if not impossible for Nigeria to progress as it ought to if the faulted 1999 constitution continue to guide her democracy.
They posted that the slow degeneration of the Nigerian Federation is manifested in more ways than one, but encapsulated in the following: the budding secessionist movements that have sprung up in different sections of the country over the years and now threaten its unity
The recommendation read in part “There should be a Federal Constitution, Federal Courts and Federal Electoral Board (INEC) to conduct all elections across the four – tiers of government. This is to remove the hegemony of, and control by State Governors on State Electoral Commissions and the imposition of stooges in LGAs as Chairpersons.
“The Supreme Council (SC) of the United States of Nigeria (USN) should be in control of the Armed Forces of Nigeria for territorial integrity and protection. The Secretary to the Federal Government of Nigeria (SGF) should be a seasoned bureaucrat.
“The National Security Adviser (NSA) should be a retired Senior Military Officer
or Police Officer.
“Religion and Religious Leaders should have no role in governance.
“All tiers of Government should hands-off the affairs of religious bodies such as sponsorship of pilgrimages and or religious tourism, Missionary schools,
hospitals, etc.
“State should have their own Constitutions, Security Architecture (Police Commands, Civil Defence Commands, Road Safety Commands, VIO Commands, etc.) and State Judiciary (Appeal and Supreme Courts). The Nigeria Armed Forces shall be on the Exclusive List for territorial integrity and protection.
“States and Regions should be encouraged to build refineries and provide electricity, portable drinking water, and other basic infrastructures to their citizens.
“This new governance structure of association of the Nigerian peoples shall grant autonomy and guarantee the freedom of the minorities and minor minorities.
“It is a new democratic system for Nigeria that will be a hybrid of Parliamentary and Presidential democracies.
“Fiscal federalism shall be based on revenue generation and remittance of stipulated dues to the Federation Account, with a stronger Resource Control mechanism through arrangement for a Bottom-Up control of resources.
“A sharing formula or ratio of 20%:80% for the Federal Government and Regional
Councils; and a sharing formula or ratio of 25%:45%:30% for Regional Councils,
State Governments and LGAs are hereby proposed.
“Nineteen (19) additional States are recommended to be created, and the people should decide which State they want to belong using the instrument of historical, cultural, and ancestral linkages, plebiscite, and land/geographical contiguity.
“States should have their constitutions different, separate and distinct from that of the Federal (1999 constitution which was tailor-made to fool and milk other citizens). There should be a new Federal constitution based on a Bottom-up arrangement.
“The Federal Government shall have the Federal Judiciary (Appeal and Supreme Courts).
“Government public and civil servants at all levels should be rationalized so as not to consume more than 30 – 35% of generated revenue. 65 -70% of revenues should be targeted to the general welfare of citizens”.
CIEN, however, called on the political representatives in the various State Houses of Assembly, the House of Representatives and the Nigerian Senate, to rise to the occasion at this pivotal point in Nigeria’s history and take the necessary actions that would give the country over 450 ethnic nationalities a voice and a renewed hope in Nigeria’s future.
