House of Representatives’ Committee on Constitution Review during its public hearing in Enugu.
From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
The demand for an additional state for South East zone of the country, was among the issues that topped the presentations made at Public Hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution for Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states, held at International Conference Center,Enugu,on Saturday, July 19.
The demand also generated heat during the two day Public hearing organised for the five states in the South East zone, held on July 4th -5th July,vat same venue.
A former Minister of Information, Dr Nnia Nwodo, who spoke on behalf of the delegation clamouring for Adada state, stressed that the actualisation of the dream of Adada state will help to resolve the problem of marginalisation of the South East zone from the center.
He stated, “The proposed Adada state has all it takes including natural and human resources, to be made a state, disclosing that the people of Enugu North Senatorial district who constitute 52 percent of the population of the present Enugu state.
The former Ohanaeze Ndigbo President General explained that Isi-Uzo local government area which is presently in Enugu East Senatorial district is part of Nsukka Cultural zone,pleading for it to be accommodated in the proposed Adada state.
According to him, the addition of Isi Uzo local government area will make the proposed Adada state which comprises of the six local government areas of Enugu North Senatorial district to have a total of Seven Local government areas.
He lamented that the struggle for creation of Adada state has been long, starting from the military era.
His words, “We saw injustice during the creation of Enugu and Ebonyi states. We approached other constitution review committees that heard us but above all was the Justice Kutige-led constitutional conference that recommended Adada state creation from the South East.
“In the present circumstance, we have 100 percent uniformity of agreement, starting from the councillors, council chairmen, States and National Assembly members and Governors who have all signed for the demand.
“We have met the constitutional requirements and we have sources or revenue that we can contribute to the Federation account. We have oil in Uzo-Uwani local government area and abundant Gas in Eha-Alumona, Nsukka local government. We have abundant animal husbandry and we have navigable sea to the conflux of Rivers Niger and Benue.
“Adada state will give us the opportunity to develop and so we beg this committee to help do justice to our matter,” Nwodo pleaded.
The proponents of Anim state in their presentation explained that it will be made up of 14 Council arears, carved out from Anambra and Imo states. Those asking for Anioma state made a passionate appeal of their cultural proximity with Igbos in the South East zone, stating they are being marginalised by other tribes in Delta State who claims they are Yorubas.
The proponents of ” Equity or Etiti state” explains it will be carved out of the already existing five states, comprising of the Local governments that are geographically and cultural related and have a common feature of under development.
“The creation of Etiti state will endeared socio economic development to several communities in the winter lands of Ebonyi state,Enugu,Abia,Imo and Anambra states, who are currently under developed based on far distance from their respective state capital”,Obinna Ezeikpe told news men.
Creating reserved seats for Nigerian women at various corridors of power to enhance their political empiwernment and participation in governance garnered a lot of presentations from various women groups and associations.
The Women Aid Collective(WACOL) founded by Professor Joy Ezeilo,harped on non implementation of the 25 percent affirmation action ,proffered by United Nations in Nigeria.
Another Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) made reference to Kenya, an African country where a woman is currently the head of parliament.
Outside politics and quest for political power,the problem of insecurity in the South East zone of the country was also discussed.
The quest for state police as the ultimate solution was presented by various groups.
Earlier, Governor Mbah while welcoming the.Comiittee to Enugu,harped on the vital need for states to establish a segment of the police that will be working in harmony with the central (federal)police in preventing and reducing crime rate in different states.
Governor Mbah described the issue of creating state police as a non-negotiable necessity in the face of Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
His words, “If you look at the intractable security situation in the country today, you would require empowering the states to be able to address them frontally. The creation of state police is one I believe hardly any state opposes”,Governor Mbah said.
The Trade Union Congress and Nigerian Labour Congress in Enugu State added a fresh dimension at the Public hearing with demand for improved welfare for varous categories of workers.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers(NUT) advocated for an amendment in the Constitution that will remove issues bordering on Primary School Teachers salary and other emoluments from the local government authorities to the states and federal government.
The Teachers hinges on the fact that while some local governments are commercially located in generating enough revenues to cater for the welfare of teachers in their Council area, many don’t have such opportunity.
NUT reasoned that a uniformed salary structure and other welfare backages,coming directly from the Federal or state government, will ensure that those retiring primary school teachers receive their pension and gratuities uniformly and adequately, a necessity which most local government authorities are finding it hard to fulfill.
The Enugu State Chairman of Trader Union Congress (TUC),Comrade Ben.Asogwa,who said he is presenting the views of the National leadership of the union cautioned that TUC will not tolerate the idea of removing Labour matters from ‘Exclusive list to Concurrent list’by the federal government.
He argued that the National minimum wage should be uniformed . That on no account should the Labour leaders be asked to go and negotiate with their respective state governors.
Many stakeholders, representatives of various Town Union’s,etc also made presentations on issues bordering their communities,till late afternoon when the curtain was drawn with National antem to mark the official closure of the one day Public hearing.
Speaking to newsmen thereafter, the Chairman of the committee, Hon.George Ozodinobi, said the hearing enabled the committee to gain a wide range of views and wish of the people on contemporary issues that enhance socio economic growth and political stability of the nation.
He disclosed that the committee after the Public hearings will study the merit of each presentation once again.
Hon.Engr. Anayo Onwuegbu FNSE, who represents Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency, in a brief chat with newsmen assured that the committee will look harmonised the interest of the Igbo nation.
