Reps deny trending draft ‘bill’ seeking return to regionalism

The House of Representatives has disowned a popular draft ‘bill’ for debate that seeks restoration to the regional form of administration.

The proposal, titled ‘A Bill for an Act to substitute the Annexure to Decree 24 of 1999 with New Governance Model for the Federal Republic of Nigeria’, wants, among other things, new current legislation to be mentioned as “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria New Governance Model for Nigeria Act 2024.”

The paper, which has been trending on social media, is believed to have been created by Dr Akin Fapohunda, who is neither a legislator in the Senate nor the House of Representatives, implying that the proposed legislation is a private bill.

The bill’s preamble reads in part:

“Whereas Nigeria, its peoples and government have been governed under Decree 24 of 1999 that was handed down by the then military government without the express consent of the people despite the preamble of ‘We, the people.’

“Whereas the said Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) is not autochthonous as it does not evolve from the deliberations and consensus of the Nigerian People;

“Whereas the peoples of Nigeria now desire and effectively demand for a change to a constitution based on federal/regional system of government.

“Whereas the federal and regional governments are to operate within the provisions of this Constitution, it is within the discretion of the ethnic blocs within the states that constitutes a given region to aggregate or disaggregate as provinces, divisions and districts, while being in control of their affairs without let or hindrance at whatever level of governance.”

House spokesperson Akin Rotimi dismissed the draft law in a phone chat with journalists, said:

“The Committees on Rules and Business and Constitution Review have confirmed that there is no such bill before them.”

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cc: Punch Ng