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. In addition, the tenure for legislators will be six years in the first instance. This means that the elections of the president and legislators will not be holding ordinarily in the same year.
Also, one of the items not yet on the proposed bill but which is being considered is the operation of foreign account by public officers. Currently, the Nigerian Constitution bans the operation of foreign accounts by officials of the three tiers of government.
A source said the current prescription on non-operation of foreign accounts is dissuading Nigerians in Diaspora from accepting and participating in the governance of Nigeria, as they find it difficult running their families without those accounts in the cause of returning to work in Nigeria.
According to the source, "yes, this is being proposed but it is not yet inserted into the proposed bill to be sent to the National Assembly. The present provision that people coming to work for the government must close their foreign accounts negatively affects the cohesiveness of the families and the nation has, because of this, lost the services of good hands that would have helped in developing the country. This has been a source of discouragement.
"Apart from this, the bulk of the proposals in the envisaged bill will affect the structure of the Nigerian federation, which we have been clamouring for. The much-talked about trimming of the function of the federal government, which currently looks unitary, will well reflect real federation as the federating state units will now handle most functions. The devolution of powers will begin with the transfer many items on the exclusive list to the states under the concurrent list. It will scrap the Joint State-Local Government Account and councils will get their funds directly from the Federation Account. The Attorney General of the Federation will, in the envisaged bill, be a member of the NJC in order to represent the Executive interests.
"Also, the determination of the minimum wage will be removed from the centralized position and be devolved to the states such that the federal and states will determine what they can pay their workers based on their ability to pay. They can fix the pays differently and not centrally, as it done now. In addition, a single tenure proposal of seven years for president and governors will be in the envisaged bill. That of lawmakers will be for six years in the first instance. This is to ensure stability. It will no more be four years. There are other issues in the bill. So, we should not make it look as if all that President Jonathan wants to do is just push for single tenure. No. There are many other issues that are coming up that will dramatically change the face of the Nigerian federation. And the President is convinced that these changes are needed to position Nigeria for true and enduring greatness."
The Guardian