Confab: FG Delegates Advocate New Constitution And Fiscal Federalism

The National Conference delegates on Tuesday called for fiscal federalism and a new constitution for Nigeria.

President Goodluck Jonathan with the National Conference delegates after the Conference inauguration ceremony, Abuja, March 17, 2014

The delegates made this call at plenary while discussing President Godluck Jonathan’s inaugural speech.
Senator Mimibariya Amange – a Federal Government delegate – said that fiscal federalism would allow each state to develop at its pace, in contrast to the present situation where states depended mainly on the FG.

"The structure as we see today called Nigeria is faulty in the sense that today we call it Federal Republic of Nigeria. "How federal is Nigeria when the federating unit will come to Abuja every 18th of the month cap in hand begging for allowance from the federal government," said Amange.

He said that there are only "10 states in Nigeria" while the rest are "glorified local government areas" as the latter are not able to generate their funds to pay salaries to the workers.
Another FG delegate representing, Annkio Briggs, said the 1999 Constitution was inconsistent and "no longer acceptable to the people of Nigeria".
She said that the country needs to have a new constitution that would promote equality and selflessness.

"[W]e need a constitution that will be based on justice and brotherhood, not greed for power and selfishness," she said. "The survival of Nigeria is the survival of all the different people that make up Nigeria," Briggs added.

The confab kicked off on March 17 and will last for three months. The conference is meant to provide a platform for Nigerians to discuss issues of common concern.