Let the dialogue go on (I)

We concluded that unless we let people understand that President Muhammadu Buhari has no fairy’s wand to wave and make things happen, it is not going to be easy.  Isa:  These obstacles exist but we can do it. There is no obstacle that a determined and committed people cannot surmount. Our strength to fix our […]

We concluded that unless we let people understand that President Muhammadu Buhari has no fairy’s wand to wave and make things happen, it is not going to be easy.
  Isa:  These obstacles exist but we can do it. There is no obstacle that a determined and committed people cannot surmount. Our strength to fix our broken vehicle lies within us. As a first step, lets implement the reports of past reform efforts that are lying fallow and gathering dust on government’s shelves.
Ayo: I cannot agree more and they are many but I was delighted when former President Jonathan sent the report of the 2014 National Conference to the Senate for consideration and necessary legislative action. In the letter he addressed to the Senate President, Senator David Mark shortly before he left office, he noted that the Federal Executive Council at its meeting on 18th of March 2015 deliberated and approved the implementation of the recommendations and resolutions of the 2014 National Conference.
Lucy: I saw a summary of the resolutions last year and remember thinking that it was remarkable attempt at reforming various aspect of our socio, political and economic issues.
Ayo: In his letter Jonathan  informed the Senators that the recommendations and resolutions cover  thematic areas such as Agriculture and Water Resources, Citizenship, Immigration and related Matters, Civil Society Organisation, Labour, Youth and Sports, Devolution of Power, Economy, Trade and Investment, Energy, Environment, Foreign Policy and Diaspora Matters and National Boundaries, National Securities, Political Parties and Electoral matters, Policies and Governance, Public Finance, Public Service, Social Sector, Religion, Science, Technology and Development and Transportation.
Isa:  Impressive, but I also know that the conference delegates went beyond just coming up with recommendations. They also submitted  the implementation modalities of the Conference  resolutions  which are classified into three broad categories  which are constitutional, legal and policy issues.
Chinyere: Yes, I downloaded a copy of the report from the internet and was happy at the proactive method adopted by the delegates. They submitted draft Bills of resolutions that required constitutional amendment or legal enactment for urgent action. I just wonder if the legislators will promptly take action on these Bills.
 Ayo: I remember that that we were told by the media that the last Federal Executive Council at its meeting on 18th of March 2015 resolved that the Draft Bills be transmitted to the National Assembly for enactment into law. It also agreed that the recommendations and resolutions that are outside the purview of the Federal Government be forwarded to relevant tiers of government for implementation.
Habiba:  My Sister served as a delegate at that Conference and she has been listing all the beautiful attempt at reform included in the Conference report . One of them was about review of the sharing of the funds accruing to the Federation Account among the tiers of government. And the Conference resolved that ‘Government should set up a Technical Committee to determine the appropriate percentages on all matters relating to revenue sharing’
Ayo: Finally the contentious issue of resource control was pushed back to Nigerians to resolve. The Conference said it ‘recognized the need to review the percentage of revenue allocation to States producing oil (and other resources). The Conference noted that assigning percentages for the increase in derivation principle require some technical details and considerations and therefore recommends that Government should set up a Technical Committee to determine the appropriate percentage on the issue and advise government accordingly.  So many committees to set up!
Lucy: These are issues that are long overdue for resolution and we are not short of experts with the knowledge to do what is right. I’m particularly happy with the Conference resolution on Special Intervention Funds which made recommendation on ‘Reconstruction and rehabilitation of areas affected by problems of insurgency and internal conflicts; and diversification of the Nigerian economy by fast tracking the development of the solid minerals sector.
Isa: If President Muhammadu Buhari works hard and succeeds in ending the insurgency and diversifying the country’s sources of revenue, he would receive commendation from Nigerians. The insurgency has not spared anyone, given the loss of lives, poverty, misery, fear and insecurity and trauma it has created. It is long agenda.
Habiba: Long agenda indeed but recommendations on how to get started were also made by the Conference delegates who noted that the setting up
Special Intervention Funds to address issues of reconstruction and rehabilitation of areas ravaged by insurgency and internal conflicts as well as solid minerals development, require some technical details and considerations and therefore recommended that government should set up a Technical Committee to determine the appropriate percentages on the two issues and advise government accordingly.
Chinyere: One quick win for President Buhari will be starting the long agenda of combating corruption, and the Conference did make recommendations on removal of the immunity clause that governors and other politically exposed persons use to shield themselves from prosecution.
Isa: Am excited at the Conference recommendation on making Socio-Economic Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy justiciable rather than optional. If it sails through then government will have to meet universal requirements for funding education, health, and other basic human needs as enshrined in Chapter II of our constitution. It is the least we can do for our citizens and we have the wherewithal to do it if only we can stop the grand scale looting of our resources.