Proposed Constitutional Ammendment

Guardian

14 August 2011

Proposed Constitutional Ammendment:

Bill To Favour Devolution Of Powers To States

To Scrap Joint Accounting System Between States, Local Govts

Leave States To Bargain On Minimum Wage

Single Term Of 7 Years For President, Governors Still A Major Item

Devolve More Powers And Functions To States

CONTRARY to public perception, the proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution by President Goodluck Jonathan is far beyond the single tenure for president and governors, and may result in the devolution of the functions currently under the exclusive federal list to the concurrent list, where they would be handed over to the states and local governments.

The proposal will also affect the composition of the National Judicial Council (NJC), as the Executive seeks to have a representative to represent his interest in the highest policy making body of the nation’s judiciary.

In addition, the proposal seeks to set the 774 local governments free form undue interference by governors, who have formed the habit of tampering with council funds in the name of a controversial Joint Account system. That system will cease to exist and the third-tier of government will start getting direct funding from the Federation Account.

Investigations by The Guardian revealed that part of the amendment will scrap the centralized bargaining for minimum wage and would aim to enthrone the system whereby the Federal and State governments will be free to negotiate with workers on the wages they can afford to pay.

Also, the single tenure being proposed will likely be seven years for president and governors and not six as being reported.