Distinguished Senator Dr. Domingo Obende has once again commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing 16 Constitution Amendment Bills into Law.
Reacting to the press statement and news rounds about the amendments that affected the State Houses of Assembly & Judiciaries, Senator Domingo in a media chat said, he was pleased that they now have constitutionally-guaranteed financial independence, while Railways have moved from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list.
Another landmark change which the APC Chieftain, and former Senator of the Seventh Senate Assembly, representing Edo North, boisterously spoke about the alteration in the Power Sector.
By virtue of the Presidential Assent, Nigerian States can now generate, transmit and distribute electricity in areas covered by the national grid. This was not allowed prior to the amendment.
The Distinguished Senator Obende in a media chat with the Kukuruku News Team said: “This is genuine and realistic Restructuring — through the Constitution.”
He said: “Take the Prisons for instance – now known as “Correctional Services” – has been moved from the exclusive legislative list, to the concurrent list.
Meaning that, states now have the power to establish correctional and custodial facilities. And State Assemblies have the power to legislate on such”
He also added that, “I am mostly impressed by one of the new Amendments to the Constitution that mandates the President and Governors “to submit the names of persons nominated as Ministers or Commissioners within sixty days of taking the oath of office for confirmation by the Senate or State House of Assembly…Thereby eliminating the process of, unnecessary delays for screening and government cabinet appointments.”
A Couple of other constitutional amendment changes include: some names of local governments in Ogun State, Egbado North and Egbado South Local Government Areas are now to be known and addressed as Yewa North and Yewa South respectively.
In Ebonyi, Afikpo North and Afikpo South LGAs are now to be known and addressed as Afikpo and Edda Local Government Areas respectively.
Senator Dr. Obende however expressed sadness that not enough State Assemblies concurred to the
Bills originally passed by the National Assembly which included Financial Autonomy for Local Governments
by replacing the controversial “State Joint Local Government Account” with a new “Local Govt Council Allocation Account” so they can be credited directly.
The Distinguished Senator remained positively elated, while expressing that, the amendment which allows the Railways to move from exclusive to concurrent was a welcome development, it means the rails will no longer be the exclusive preserve of Federal Government and National Assembly.
The States will now be able to make laws regulating establishment & operation of rail services within their territory. Inter-State Rail will however remain the responsibility of the Federal Government.
