By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
A non governmental and non political human rights organisation, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has advocated for the entrenchment in the constitution and adoption of unicameral legislature in Nigeria’s democratic system of government.
CDHR argued that the unicameral legislature in the mode of House of Representatives is cheaper , easier to maintain and makes government business simpler and faster.
In a press conference by the President of CDHR, Comrade Debo Adeniran on the State of the Nation held at Ikeja Lagos on October 1st, 2024 to mark Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day, he noted that
Nigeria is unnecessarily encumbered by the weight of its top-heavy and unwieldy system of government .
He noted that Nigeria’s system of government consists of three tiers of federal, state and local, adding that each tier consists of three arms, the executive, legislative and judiciary, whereas the federal legislature is bicameral with the Senate and House of Representatives.
In the light of the above and to reduce costs of governance and have all inclusive participation of citizens in the affairs of the nation, the human rights group made some recommendations and called on the government to critically look into the recommendations for urgent implementation:
“We would like to recommend that a unicameral legislature in the mode of House of Representatives is cheaper, easier to maintain and makes government business simpler and faster and should be adopted in Nigeria. At the end of the day, if Senate is more fashionable, they should name the National Assembly, Senate or simply make it National Assembly.
“Election of members should be based on the same criteria upon which the House of Representative members were elected.
The organisation also recommendation that the three tiers of government be reduced to two; the federal and local governments. It argued that there is no need for state government, stating that State governments are just discomfiting interlopers, whose roles can be better played as local government.
“State governments are the veritable excuses why local governments had not been functioning optimally. That is why state governments don’t want autonomy for local governments.
On appointment of ministers, Comrade Adeniran stated that CDHR is are aware that the constitution provides that at least one cabinet minister should be appointed from each of the component states.
“Our recommendation is that Ministers and state commissioners should also be elected by their respective states or constituencies same way that the federal and state legislators are respectively elected.
On appointment of aides, the group also recommended that the President should only have opportunities of appointing personal assistants and not even special advisers adding that ministers should play the roles of advising the President on sectorial issues.
“The president and ministers should only appoint few assistants whose emoluments would be borne by the government for himself and his ministers. Any public servant who wants more assistants should remunerate them from their personal resources. The President should nonetheless put a limit to the number of Assistants employed for them.
In addition, the government is urged to release all #EndSARS and #EndBadGovernance protesters, journalists, whistleblowers and other victims of state repression unconditionally.
Other recommendations by CDHR to the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are:
“Reduce the cost of governance and place all political office holders on the minimum wage. Scrap security vote and constituency allowances.
“Provide free and compulsory primary and secondary education for all Nigerian children. Reduce tertiary education school fees. Give Nigerian students grant and not loans.
“Immediate prosecution and jailing of all corrupt politicians, judges, police, public servants and state officials.
“Massive investment in public works, social infrastructure and industrialization to create decent jobs for all.
“Genuine electoral reform. For independent candidature, diaspora voting and a truly independent electoral body.
“Say no to IMF neo-liberal policies. Reverse hike in fuel price and electricity tariff back to pre-May 29, 2023 level. Make government-owned refineries work to guarantee affordable petroleum products.
“Reduce food prices and end hunger. Support farmers with security, funds and farm inputs to ensure sustainable food production.
“End insecurity, banditry, terrorism and violent crimes. Prosecute culprits and their sponsors. For a robust security architecture and adequate support for soldiers at the front and their families.
The organisation noted that the current constitution, the ground norm with which our individual and collective lives are being administered was foisted upon Nigerians by an illegitimate military governments.
“It is on this note that we recommend that the government should convoke a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) wherein every Nigerian voice would be directly represented and where a brand new Nigerian Constitution would evolve.
“SNC is the foundation of a true democracy and nationhood; without it we would only be living under self-denial in a mere political contraption without any true unifying factor and therefore signifying nothing but a keg of gunpowder waiting to explode”
Reviewing the advancement Nigeria has made since independence on October 1st 1960 CDHR President expressed that
“Our freedom didn’t come easily. It was the result of long years of struggle and immense sacrifices by our pre independence leaders. They fought not with weapons but with strong ideals, a belief in justice, and a dream of a free nation. Their determination and commitment inspire us to this day.
“Whereas every October 1st is a day to celebrate national independence, we do not think our country has much to celebrate this year. Nigerians are neither happy nor free after 64 years of political independence from Colonial Britain.
“The Nigerian masses are poor and hungry. Since coming to power, the Tinubu administration has imposed unprecedented hardship on millions of Nigerians and pushed them into multi-dimensional poverty and monumental misery.
“Many working families are at the point of starvation. Several people have lost their jobs and lives. The middle class has been destroyed. The rate of suicide is increasing. Despite this, President Tinubu continues to drive forward these criminal anti-human policies as shown by the about 300% increase in petrol price in September compared to the situation in May 29, 2023”.
“As we mark this yearly event, let us remember that the true essence of freedom lies in upholding the values of equality, justice, and brotherhood” CDHR stressed
