By Ayodele Oni
The South West Zonal Sitting of the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Constitution Review began in Akure, Ondo state, Tuesday, with Governor Rotimi Akeredolu advocating for a Unicameral Legislature at the Federal level.
The Governor was of the view that the Senate, regarded as the Red Chamber, should be scrapped to reduce cost of governance.
He, also, suggested a reduction in the number of Ministries and parastatals as this would make more funds available for developmental projects.
The South West Zonal Public Hearing Center is for Ondo, Ekiti and Osun States, where various Speakers will present papers and submit Memorandum for the review of the 1999 Constitution.
Governor Akeredolu had, last week, received in Akure, members of the Senate Committee on similar exercise led by Senator Ajayi Borofice, representing Ondo North at the Senate.
While declaring open the talk shop, Governor Akeredolu, represented by Deputy governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, pointed out that the scaling down of the members of the National Assembly and the ministries would drastically cut cost of governance in the country.
“The position of the Ondo State Government has been made public. We advocate for a Federal Government largely reduced in size and scope of engagement.
“We want to see a Constitution that will enhance the performance of public office holders at all levels.
“It is possible to have a government that will serve the people in deed and truth. The law of the land must aid this realistic expectation.
“We must reduce the cost of governance and shift attention to service delivery in this trying period.”
“The country may consider dropping the current bicameral structure of the National Assembly and adopt a unicameral legislature.
“The membership of the Assembly should be part time. No member should earn allowances not known to the Revenue Mobilisation and Allocation Committee and, more importantly, people they claim to serve.
“Legislators should earn under a uniform salary structure. Allowance peculiarities must not be about obscenity. The Senate should be scrapped.
“The House of Representatives too should not be unwieldy. A maximum of four representatives should come from each zone.”
Earlier in a welcome address, the Chairman, House special committee on Constitution Review, Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris Wase represented by Mr Peter Akpatason pointed out that the exercise would consider the views of the people.
A number of Nigerians have been either for, or against the review of the Military-imposed 1999 Constitution, as amended. While some say go back to the pre-1999 Constitution, others say to dust up the 2014 Goodluck Jonathan Constitutional Conference, while others are in favour of a completely new Constitution.
