Adegboruwa: PDP, APC constitutions support zoning and power rotation – Newstrends
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Adegboruwa: PDP, APC constitutions support zoning and power rotation

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4 years ago

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Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says the constitutions of the two major political parties in the country support zoning and power rotation.

 

His statement comes amid the political tussle between the northern and southern regions over which part of the country will produce the next president.

 

Ahead of the 2023 elections, southern governors have maintained that the next president must come from their region, while their northern counterparts, in a meeting in Kaduna, on September 27, said the position of the southern governors contradicts the provisions of the constitution.

 

Reacting to this issue on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, on Tuesday, the senior advocate of Nigeria said the framers of the Nigerian constitution made provisions in the law to accommodate national cohesion through distribution of power in the country.

 

Adegboruwa said section 14 (3) of the constitution stated clearly the need for zoning and power rotation to ensure national cohesion, so that there will not be dominance of a particular ethnic group or tribe.

 

“When we examine various sections of the 1999 constitution, it is clearly written, especially in chapter 2, that the framers of the constitution had envisaged that we were going to get to this stage in our national lives,” he said.

 

“So enough provisions have been made to accommodate national cohesion, to carry everybody along in governance and to ensure unity, equality and justice in the distribution of power and offices.

 

“In particular, I’ll refer to section 14 of the 1999 constitution, in particular section 14(3), which talks about the need for there to be a spread in the distribution of offices and composition of government, in such a way that there is no dominance of a particular state, ethnic group, or a tribe should have that dominance in terms of the sharing of power.

 

“So in that regard, it is meant that we should promote national cohesion and unity and a sense of loyalty amongst all the ethnic groups and indeed the geopolitical zone that makes the federation of Nigeria.

 

”Their Excellencies on their position that rotation is contrary to the constitution of Nigeria; the section they referred to in particular only talked about the mode of election, how a person can be elected as a president of Nigeria.

 

“But the constitution itself before that provision had envisaged that there must be that national spread and balance, in such a way that a particular ethnic group or tribe is not seen as dominating.

 

Adegboruwa said the constitutions of the All Progressives congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also support the principle of zoning and power rotation.

 

“It is not anything new, it’s been in the Nigeria political system. The PDP in article 7 of its own constitution specifically stated that it will adhere to the principle of zoning of elective offices between the various regions in Nigeria,” he said.

 

“And even in the APC constitution, article 7 also specifically says that the party will promote national unity.”

 

He, however, added that in a sane clime, the origin of a president of a nation should not be the bone of contention, saying what matters should be merit and drive for national cohesion.

 

Adegboruwa also said the controversy on the issue of zoning is the handiwork of the country’s political elites, who are after their own personal interests and not the interest of the nation.

 

“Ordinarily, nobody should be concerned about the origin of the president of a nation, if governance follow a particular principal of which there is proportional representation appointment are based on national cohesion and merit,” he said.

 

“I think as a nation we need to ensure that we achieve common and good governance, infrastructure, and democratic system of governance.”

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Zamfara okays 100% increase in NYSC members’ state allowances

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April 26, 2025

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Zamfara okays 100% increase in NYSC members’ state allowances

National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members posted to Zamfara State are set to receive double their previous state allowances following a directive by Governor Dauda Lawal.

The governor made this known on Friday during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Batch ‘A’ Stream I orientation course in Gusau. Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Malam Abubakar Nakwada, Lawal reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to corps members’ security and welfare.

“I am happy to inform you that I have directed the resumption of payment of state allowances to all corps members in the state.“I have also directed the upward increments of corps members’ allowances by 100 percent.“My administration is also willing to pay special allowances to the medical corps members serving in the state,” he stated.

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He also encouraged the 550 corps members deployed to Zamfara to embrace the state’s cultural heritage and traditions.

“I assure corps members of adequate security and warm hospitality throughout their year of service in the state.“I wish to reiterate that we will pay full attention to your security and welfare.“We will give you all the necessary support to carry out your duties and will provide everything necessary to make your stay here a memorable one,” the governor added.

In his remarks, NYSC State Coordinator Mohammad Ahmad expressed gratitude for the state government’s ongoing backing of the scheme.

“We appreciate the state government for adequate provision of additional facilities as well as approval for the payment of state allowances to corps members,” Ahmad said.

Zamfara okays 100% increase in NYSC members’ state allowances

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Just in: Factional Zamfara assembly leaders want governor to represent budget

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2 days ago

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April 24, 2025

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Just in: Factional Zamfara assembly leaders want governor to represent budget

A factional House of Assembly has emerged in Zamfara state with members demanding the re-presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill by Governor Dauda Lawal.

The group, made up of nine lawmakers who were suspended in February 2024 over allegations of misconduct, conspiracy, and illegal sitting, convened in Gusau, the state capital, and declared the formation of a parallel legislative body.

At the session, the lawmakers elected Hon. Bashir Aliyu Gummi as Speaker of the factional assembly.

During the sitting, the faction addressed several issues, including the state’s deteriorating security situation, economic challenges, and the recent reports of mass sackings within the state civil service allegedly carried out by the Lawal administration.

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The group further demanded that Governor Lawal re-present the 2025 budget, arguing that the process followed in its initial passage was flawed. The governor had originally submitted the N545 billion Appropriation Bill to the widely-known State House of Assembly led by Speaker Bilyaminu Ismail Moriki in December 2024. The bill was passed and signed into law that same month.

Present at Wednesday’s session were Hon. Aliyu Ango Kagara (Talata Mafara South), Ibrahim Tudu Tukur (Bakura), Nasiru Abdullahi Maru (Maru North), and Faruk Musa Dosara (Maradun 1). Others included Bashar Aliyu (Gummi 1), Bashir Abubakar Masama (Bukkuyum North), Amiru Ahmed (Tsafe West), Basiru Bello (Bungudu West), and Mukhtaru Nasiru (Kaura Namoda North).

 

Just in: Factional Zamfara assembly leaders want governor to represent budget

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NLC to IMF: Your reforms inflict hunger, poverty on masses

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2 days ago

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April 24, 2025

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President of the NLC, Comrade Joseph Ajaero

NLC to IMF: Your reforms inflict hunger, poverty on masses

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has taken a swipe at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over its policy proposals to Nigeria and other African nations on how to rejuvenate their ailing economies.

Indeed, the NLC pointedly told the IMF that its conditionalities for giving loans to Nigeria and others were inflict pains of hunger and poverty on the masses.

The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, stated this when he received the IMF team team comprising the its Resident Representative for Nigeria, Christian H. Ebeke, and, Axel Schimmelpfennig from Washington, DC.

The purpose of the visit, it was learnt, was to assess how Nigerian workers and the general populace are being affected by the current socioeconomic environment and the hardship resulting from government policies.

The IMF delegation, led by Schimmelpfennig also sought insights from the NLC regarding the state of the labour market in Nigeria. According to them, the information gathered would contribute to the IMF’s annual country report for Nigeria.

Sources at the meeting disclosed that the IMF team acknowledged that the Nigerian government has been grappling with fiscal challenges since assuming office.

They emphasized that the IMF’s recommendations are purely advisory and not mandatory, based on the prevailing realities in each country.

The delegation expressed concern that, often, governments do not follow the IMF’s recommendations to the letter, instead adapting them to align with political objectives. In effect, the IMF attempted to distance itself from the adverse consequences of some recent economic reforms in Nigeria.

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Nevertheless, the IMF team requested continued engagement with the NLC going forward.

Ajaero made it clear that governance should prioritize citizens’ welfare over profit-making.

He criticized the austerity measures often recommended by the IMF, noting that they have worsened living conditions for Nigerians.

It was gathered that Ajaero particularly highlighted the removal of fuel subsidies, which he said has led to increased suffering, hunger, and poverty among workers and the general population.

The NLC president argued that there was no real subsidy to remove in the first place, as the government was already profiting from crude oil sales.

He described the “subsidy removal” as merely a justification for increasing fuel prices.

He equally questioned the use of the revenue purportedly saved from the subsidy removal, especially since the government continues to borrow heavily.

“He pointed out that the cost of essential services—such as education and transportation—has tripled, leading to widespread hardship.

He condemned the growing disparity between the worsening living conditions of citizens and the increasing wealth of government officials.”

Ajaero emphasized that genuine reforms should improve the welfare of the people, not enrich those in power.

He also criticized the government for not consulting key stakeholders before implementing the subsidy removal policy.

This exclusion, he said, had exacerbated the country’s economic challenges.

He noted that inclusive dialogue could have produced better strategies and outcomes, lamenting that the government has isolated itself from valuable advice.”

On the national minimum wage, the NLC president complained that the N70,000 wage is not being implemented sincerely across all levels of government. Instead, the government has continued to impose additional taxes, worsening the financial burden on citizens.

Ajaero urged the IMF to advise the government to ease this pressure and allow citizens to breathe.

He warned that rising poverty levels could lead to social unrest if left unaddressed.

NLC to IMF: Your reforms inflict hunger, poverty on masses

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