Tinubu Declines Assent To Bill Seeking Extension Of Federal, State Legislators Tenure

Tweaking The CBN Act, NASS Must Tread With Caution

President Bola Tinubu has declined assent to a bill seeking to extend the tenure of service of legislative officers at the National Assembly, as well as the 36 state Houses of Assembly from 35 to 40 years and their retirement age from 60 to 65 years. The president’s declined assent was conveyed in a letter read, today on the floor of the Senate by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio. The harmonised controversial retirement age bill was first stepped down in February, 2024 for further research and consultation with stakeholders, after a significant number of senators voted against it. The bill first introduced during the 7th Assembly, was transmitted to the 9th Assembly where it suffered a standstill and subsequently to the 10th Senate. The President’s letter read that ‘ Upon thorough examination and careful consideration, I have decided to withhold my assent to the bill”, Tinubu wrote. “This decision is made by the powers vested in me by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I wish to express my sincere appreciation for the diligent work of the Senate with regard to the drafting and passage of this Bill. I hope you will receive it with understanding. Please accept the assurances of my highest regard”, the letter read. Akpabio presided over the resumption of legislative sitting after eight weeks of recess.

The imperatives of creating Anioma state

The agitation for the creation of Anioma state or autonomy for the people is not a fly-by-night struggle nor a new idea prompted by such other demands in the South East geo-political zone or in other zones. The Anioma issue has been raised at any given opportunity and at every appropriate forum in this country in the last 50 years, possibly more. By UGO ONUOHA FOR the life of Nigeria as an independent country, 1960, the history is fairly recent. Though the journey through time had been chequered, nothing these past 64 years, next October 1, had been so traumatic, including the chilling bloodletting of the Biafra -Nigeria war (1967-1970), and the challenge of reconciliation more than 50 years after the war, to erase our individual and collective memories.   And because of this, it is likely that many adults amongst today’s Nigeria’s population of mainly young people will recall some fundamental events in the first republic between 1960-1967. One of such events was the creation in August 1963 of the defunct Mid-West region from the defunct Western region. Before the Mid-West region, there were the Northern region, Eastern region and the Western region which were in many respects the arbitrary creations of the British colonizers in the 1940s.   So, historically, again if our memories do not play pranks on us, the Mid-West region was the first and sadly only self-governing territory within Nigeria that was created by popular demand and through a democratic process. The Mid-West region came to be essentially because of the political power play between the Eastern and Northern regions on the one hand, and the Western region on the other hand. But it was also founded to satisfy the political and developmental aspirations of the peoples of the Benin and Delta provinces of the Western region. In his private and public life, Nwoko has not been associated with tardiness. So it was no surprise that the contents of his bill for the creation of Anioma state appeared to be attended by forethought, political deftness, requisite consultations, rigour and vigour. It then means that since 1963 all the governing enclaves we have come to know now as states had been created arbitrarily by a succession of military regimes. And the last time states, six in number were created, was in 1996 by the former head of state, the late Gen. Sani Abacha. It’s instructive that more than 60 years after the creation of the Mid-West region through a plebiscite , the strongest candidate for state creation in our new democratic setting is the demand for Anioma state. The Anioma area was part of the Benin/Delta province which became the former Mid-West region. Ahead of the civil war it was reverted to a province, and later Edo and Delta states. The Anioma people are in present day Delta state.   Early last month, Senator Ned Nwoko who represents Delta north in the Senate promoted and caused a bill for the creation of Anioma state to be tabled on the floor of the senate. In his private and public life, Nwoko has not been associated with tardiness. So it was no surprise that the contents of his bill for the creation of Anioma state appeared to be attended by forethought, political deftness, requisite consultations, rigour and vigour. The timing of his move was deft, and could in future provide a lesson for the masterclass for political gladiators. Senator Nwoko is on the cusp of using one pebble or stone to kill two birds at once. In my neck of the woods, and indeed his, Nwoko ‘choro iji ofu okwute/aku gbagbue nnunnu abuo’. That will be a feat in any clime and the possibility in this instance is rapidly unfolding before our eyes.   The agitation for the creation of Anioma state or autonomy for the people is not a fly-by-night struggle nor a new idea prompted by such other demands in the South East geo-political zone or in other zones. The Anioma issue has been raised at any given opportunity and at every appropriate forum in this country in the last 50 years, possibly more. That may explain why during the 2014 National Political Conference (CONFAB), the need for the creation of Anioma state was raised, and it resonated with the majority of participants.   The Conference was organised by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) government of President Goodluck Jonathan. He lost power to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC’s) Muhammadu Buhari the following year. The APC and Buhari ignored the recommendations of the Conference which included creating at least one more state in the South East to bring it at par with other regions except the North West which has seven states. …there are presently nine LGAs in Delta state whose indigenes are Igbo and whose language is Igbo. Additionally, these council areas are by geographical proximity within the orbit of the so-called mainland Igbo states of the South East. In terms of culture, tradition and names the people of Anioma cannot be said to be less Igbo. As we stated above, Senator Nwoko has brought a new and refreshing angle to the demand for the creation of Anioma state. His argument is virtually unassailable to the fair -minded, and his deft linkage of Anioma to the predominantly Igbo states of the South East is a masterstroke. His argument that when created Anioma state will fill a yawning gap in the South East was thoughtful. Presently, state creation is skewed against the South East. It has five states. The South West, South South, North Central, North East and South West have six states each. The North West has seven.   Nwoko argues in his bill for the creation of Anioma state that there are presently nine local government areas in Delta state whose indigenes are Igbo and whose language is Igbo. Additionally, these council areas are by geographical proximity within the orbit of the so-called mainland Igbo states of the South East. In terms of