News Investigators/ Plateau State/ Caleb Mutfwang, has called on the National Assembly to include the creation of state police in the ongoing review of the 1999 constitution.
Mr Mutfwang made the call during the senate Stakeholders and Public Hearing for the North-Central region on the constitutional review on Friday in Jos.
Declaring the event open, the governor said that the move would address the current security challenges in the country.
“Permit me to highlight the issue of insecurity and the need for state Police which has become an elephant in the room that we must as responsible leaders speak about.
“It is on record that Nigeria is bedevilled by grievous and pervasive security perturbations which hitherto were confined geographically to some zones of the country, but has now metamorphosed and metastasized into a cancerous growth eating into the fabric of our collective union.
“While the common denominator underlying these security breaches is the upswing in the violence against persons and properties, state police become imperative,” he said.
The governor also called on the national assembly to consider devolution of power to enable states to manage their resources and propel uneven developmental strides.
Mr Mutfwang also advised the national assembly to consider judicial and legislative reform, adding that such a move would strengthen the independence, integrity and accountability of justice and fairness by all.
“We urge you to consider fiscal federalism, to allow for fairer distribution of national revenue and empower subnational governments.
“Citizenship and indigeneity, protection of fundamental rights and human dignity, and institutional reforms should be embedded in our constitution in order to reposition governance at every level,” he said.
Earlier, Sen. Barau Jibrin, the Deputy Senate President and Chairman of the senate constitutional review committee, said that the move was due to the demands by Nigerians.
Represented by Sen. Ashiru Oyelola, Jibrin said that the review would address some of the existing gaps in the constitution.
“In response to the demands of Nigerians, the national assembly has enacted five sets of amendments to the Constitution, known as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th alteration Acts.
“These amendments tackle various issues related to good governance, institutional strengthening, and national aspirations.
“However, several fundamental issues of national importance remain unresolved, requiring more than just routine law-making by the national assembly and State Houses of Assembly.
“These issues continue to dominate public discourse, with many Nigerians advocating for legislative action to address them.
“This is why we are here today,”he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that representatives of tribal associations, interest groups, religious bodies, among others are expected to present and submit their memoranda during the public hearing.
NAN
