State police could not scale through committee level at the National Conference yesterday.
Its advocates failed to convince others in the Committee on Power Devolution to transfer it to the Concurrent List that would enable States to share power and responsibilities on it with the Federal government.
Delegates were divided as they argued along geo-political lines with Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Gbade Adedeji, Senator Tony Adefuye, Chief Okey Ikedife and Chief Adeniyi Akintola in favour of a decentralised police.
Alhaji Dambatta Magaji and Col Usman Farouk led the northern delegates’ agitation against a decentralised police structure.
For the protagonists of state police, state governments have been funding the Police as a result of the inability of the Federal Government to adequately cater for the institution.
Chief Adebanjo, who noted that a decentralised police force was a key factor in a federal system of government, pointed out that note should be taken on the need to reduce the burden of governance in the Federal Government.
“If the country wanted federalism, it should not run away from the things that make a federation. For instance, the problem of Boko Haram could have been better handled if the country had a police structure that could keep track on the local people and identify deviants before they get out of hand.
Besides, he noted that the unitary structure of the Police was largely responsible for the growing insecurity in Nigeria as men and officers of the Police were largely strangers in their places of
assignment.
Antagonists of the state police, led by former Governor of the defunct North Western State, Col. Usman Farouk, said criminals could commit crimes in one state and take refuge in another.
Defence chief defends Armed Forces
The Chief of Defence Statff (CDS), Air Marshal Alex Badeh, yesterday said the Armed Forces should not be discredited.
The CDS said there was no truth in the insinuation of friction between the Minister of Defence Gen. Aliyu Gasau and the service chiefs.
Badeh stated this in response to the memorandum on alleged mal-administration in the Armed Forces submitted to the sub-committee on defence infrastructure of the National Conference by retired Brig-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali.
On counter terrorism measures, he said the insinuation in the Dan-Ali’s memorandum that the counter-terrorism measures adopted by the Armed Forces have failed, casts aspersion on the Armed Forces and the political leadership of the nation.
“This is regrettable, especially coming from a source that is in a better position to appreciate the complexity of asymmetric warfare. It is hoped that highly placed individuals would refrain from making inflammatory statements that are likely to undermine morale in the Armed Forces of Nigeria and jeopardize military operations,” he warned.
The CDS, who was represented by Assistant Director (Legal Services) Defence Headquarters, Col. G.O. Anyalemechi, responded blow-by-blow to allegations of mal-administration made by Dan-Ali in his memo to the National Conference.
He noted that although the sub-committee called for memorandum from the general public, it was not clear whether it was appropriate for a conference delegate to submit a memorandum on a subject which he may ultimately preside over.
He insisted that the perceived failure as alluded to in the memorandum by Dan-Ali was capable of undermining the corporate existence of the country.
Conference delegate, he said, should not allow it to happen.
On the command and control of the Armed Forces, he said: “This Headquarters disassociates itself from any imagined friction between the Honourable Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs.”
He said the Armed Forces Act has clearly defined functions and assigned responsibilities with respect to the general administration of the Armed Forces.
The Act, he said, also established Councils and Boards chaired by the Minister of Defence.
“Indeed, the total subordination of the military to civil authority is not an issue that should be belaboured. The Honourable Minister of Defence superintends over the Defence Ministry which encompasses the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“Undoubtedly, the minister does not take part in actual military operations, and may not, in those circumstances, exercise operational command and control of troops. That does not in any way dilute the democratic imperative of civilian control of the Military,” he said.
On alleged illegal detentions and extra judicial trials, he noted that the Armed Forces Act makes copious provisions on arrest, detention and trials.
The Act, he added, also makes provision for appeals by aggrieved personnel just as it made provision for prolonged detention of Service personnel in the interest of public order and Service discipline.
The CDS said the absence of specific example by Dan-Ali in his memo makes a comprehensive response to his allegation impossible.
He said the discriminatory legal reviews as alleged in the memo do not exist in Armed Forces of Nigeria because legal reviews are carried out by legal experts in the respective Directorates of Legal Services, which are manned by qualified lawyers.
The Directorates, he said, review Court-Martial cases and advise the Army Council, Navy Board or Air Council, as the case may be.
He added that as an institution manned by human beings, they cannot claim infallibility in all respects.
“It is, therefore, pertinent to note that, shortcomings attributable to human factor cannot be elevated to discrimination, as insinuated in the memorandum. Above all, the provision on review of Court-Martial sentences in Sections 154 and155 of the Armed Forces Act are discretionary in nature, each case being treated on its merit.”
On corruption, he said the memorandum also failed to provide verifiable data upon which the allegation was based.
“Nevertheless, it has been posited that corruption is the bane of the third world countries of which Nigeria is one. It is hoped that the current Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government, which includes the Armed Forces of Nigeria, would bring about the desired change in the polity.
“There is, therefore, no basis for the misgiving expressed by the author over perceived corruption in the Armed Forces,” he said.
He said promotions in the Armed Forces are guided by clear provisions of the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service, as amplified by individual regulations applicable to the Services.
He noted that generally, promotion in the Armed Forces is a privilege and not a right.
He added that for a senior officer to be eligible for promotion, he must satisfy certain conditions.
The conditions, he said, include deployability, good confidential report, specific academic and professional qualifications as well as establishment vacancy, amongst others.
He said the conditions are adhered to as much as they are humanly possible.
On the issue of Federal Character, he noted that it is pertinent to state that Federal Character is also adhered to, especially at the point of entry into the Military.
“However, as commissioned officers grow in rank, they are required to scale various hurdles in order to be eligible for promotion,” he said.
Barde said the allegation of mal-administration in the Armed Forces as contained in the memo have far-reaching implications on the general administration of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and by extension, national security.
“This is particularly worrisome as no specific examples were given in the memorandum to substantiate the allegations and claims by the author.
“It is instructive to observe that the Armed Forces Act, the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service as well as other internal regulations of respective Services, contain adequate provisions and guidelines on general administration and discipline of the Armed Forces.
“The Nigerian Armed Forces have over the years endeavoured to adhere strictly to these provisions. This accounts for the cohesion and unity of purpose that define the corporate existence of the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” he said.
Committee backs SIEC
The Conference’s Committee on Political Parties and Electoral Matters yesterday endorsed the continued existence of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SEIC) for the prosecution of elections at the Local government level.
The Committee, co-chaired by former Senate Presidents, Ken Nnamani and Prof. Iyorchia Ayu, also invited the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Prof. Atahiru Jega to appear before it today for interactions on electoral matters.
The Committee is set to consider placing the SEIC on first line charge and well as authority it regulates its own procedures.
According to Ayu, who said the tenure of Prof. Maurice Iwu as Chairman of INEC was the worst in the history of the country, said Nigerians are agitating for the independence of SEIC because conditions have improved under the present electoral body.
The Committee was of the opinion that INEC should not be burdened with Council elections going by the lapses witnessed in previous general elections executed by INEC.
The delegates have also advocated for the strengthening of the SEIC to make it effective, efficiently as well as empower it against being turned to pawns in the hands of State executives.
Olusola Ebiseni from Ondo State said there were contradictions inherent in calls for true federalism and the removal of SEIC.
Besides, he noted that the existence of SEIC was a constitutional matter as mentioned in Section 197 while the State, as a federating unit is expected to handle the affairs of the Local government as part of its residual functions.
According to him, if democratic structures were allowed to endure, good governance would be encouraged that would result in less corruption and by extension, less agitations from Nigerians.
Ebiseni, who was a member of a sub-committee set up on how to strengthen SEIC, said the Committee would explore means of placing SEIC on forts line charge.
Secondly, he said the Committee would seek how the SEIC would be empowered to regulate its own procedures without seeking approval of the governor.
Former Governor Achike Udenwa said rather than ask for the scrapping of the SEIC, it should rather be strengthened through the appointment of its members.
He suggested that political parties with members in the State House of Assembly, religious bodies, trade unions as well as members of he Civil Society Organisations (CSO) should be members of the commission.
He also said the SEIC should be backed by strong laws while asking the legislature to wake up to its responsibility of calling the executive to order when it is going out of its bounds.
In his submission, former Governor Olusegun Osoba, who supported Udenwa on the need to strengthen the SEIC, said issue of finance is critical to the Local government, which was responsible for its manipulation by the governors.
According to him, it was the federal allocation for local council that the governors are using to control the local government.
He said the manner local government are run by governors was not fair, adding that if the issue of finance can be resolved in favour of the local council, governors would have less over bearing influence in the affairs of local government, including local elections.
Sidi Ali from Northwest said SEIC should be re-energised but that the powers of the President and governors should be removed as sole appointees of Chairmen of INEC and SEIC.
Senator Mohammed Jibril said it was INEC that should rather be strengthened and that ‘mushroom commissions’ like SEIC should not be allowed to exist.
He was supported by Musa Salihu,who regretted that governors have too much influence on the SIEC. He said: “Scrap SEIC, there is no need to strengthen them, they are too corrupt,” he added.
Anayo Nnebe also advocated for the scrapping of SEIC, saying: “INEC has never delayed national elections for a month, but SIEC always does. It should be scraped from the constitution. They do governors biddings only.”
NULGE: let local govts be
The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and the Nigeria Youth for Positive Change (NYPC) have urged the National Conference not to sanction the removal oflocal government system from the constitution.
NULGE’s President Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel and NYPC President Nasiru Kabir, in statements, said any move to expunge the system from the structure of government would be resisted through popular protest.
The NULGE president said: “The attention of NULGE has been drawn to the position of the Committee of the National Conference on Power Devolution and Structure of Government at the on-going National Conference. The committee was reported to have resolved that local government system in Nigeria should be put under the control of the state government and should also be expunged from the constitution.
“With due respect to eminent Nigerians who constitute this committee, this position is arbitrary and without taken into consideration the feelings of Nigerians and recommendations of panels and committees; government white papers and National Assembly resolutions on the desirability of local government autonomy. The union posits that this position is inimical to the good interest of our dear country.
“The union knows that the issue of local government is an almost settled matter through various past efforts. The National Conference can only build on this and adopt it for a ground norm in Nigeria and not to sabotage or put the country in a reverse gear through its positions.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
state police will be politicized. will be used against oppositions. your enemy can use them against you. can be used against another tribe. so i dont support it.
ReplyDelete