Tag Archives: Committees

Why FG set up committee on electoral reform – Malami

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The Federal Government has formally inaugurated the 24-man committee headed by former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, to review the 2012 Electoral Act.

During the ceremony at his office, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said the setting up of the committee was based on one of the promises made by President Muhammadu Buhari upon his inauguration, where he promised to deepen the country’s commitment to democracy and entrench the culture of an enduring electoral system.

According to Malami, Nigeria’s recent history of electoral practice and the challenges of managing elections require far-reaching measures to build consensus among stakeholders in order to institutionalise critical reforms.

He charged the members to seek possible amendments that would facilitate a generally acceptable electoral system in the country.

“It is my expectation that this committee will look into the possible amendments to the Constitution and the electoral act, as well as other legal instruments concerning elections to facilitate the attainment of a more robust and generally acceptable electoral system,” said Malami.

He added: “I reiterate that this is an electoral reform committee whose responsibility is not expected to end with mere recommendations, but expected by way of consolidation, to come up with a draft executive memo that will be submitted to the Federal Executive Council for approval, and support the same with draft executive bills meant to place our electoral system on a pedestal good enough to accommodate progressive reforms.”

Responding, panel Chairman Ken Nnamani said: “If we get our laws correct and appropriate, there will be a reduction in violence, particularly with regard to our elections.”

He added: “We understand the task ahead because what makes the difference between free and fair elections has something to do with the Electoral Act itself.”

The terms of reference of the committee include review of the laws impacting elections in Nigeria, such as the relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act (as amended).

They include a review of recent judicial decisions on election petitions as they relate to conflicting judgments, absence of consequential orders, delay in the issuance of Certified True Copies of judgements as well as harmonization of the electoral act with a view to enhancing the electoral
process.

The committee is expected to submit a report of its recommendations for reforms and draft clauses and provisions to be proposed for legislative action within 10 weeks.

Dogara, Gbajabiamila In Fresh Feud Over Committees

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Majority leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has written to the speaker, Yakubu Dogara, complaining of his total sideline and ignorance in the formation of the 96 House Standing Committees announced a fortnight ago.

Gbajabiamila’s letter, dated October 20, preempted the scheduled announcement of the committees by the speaker, which was made on October 22 and sought for the observance and respect of the provisions of the House rules ahead of the announcement.

Ever since the announcement of the 96 committees by the speaker, which saw an increase of seven committees from the previous 89, criticisms have continued to trail the sharing of the committees, where the ruling APC got 48, while the PDP got 46.

The APC lawmakers have been unequivocal in their displeasure over the number of committee, including those termed as “juicy” allocated to the opposition PDP by the speaker.

But the speaker’s office has defended the allegation in a letter signed by Dogara’s chief whip, Jerry Manwe and addressed to all principal officers for a consultative meeting scheduled just hours before the announcement on the floor.

The speaker’s letter, dated October 21 and titled “Notice of meeting of Principal Officers of the House of Representatives” was annexed with another, showing the attendance of the meeting by the principal officers.

It indicated against all the nine listed principal officers their attendance signature, where the House leader’s name was also written against his position as an attendee.

Gbajabiamila’s letter to Dogara, which was copied to the APC national chairman, said severally, the House leader had held meetings with the speaker both at home and in office to be acquainted with the situation of committees’ composition, as a member of the selection committee.

“I did this because of the incessant rumor that some had been composed. On each occasion, you assured me that nothing had been done. From all indications however it appears that an announcement of the Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen is imminent and such may be done this week,” the letter had said.

Gbajabiamila cited Order 7 Rule 27 (2)c of the House rules, which underscored the explicit role of the House leader to work “with committee chairmen and other functionaries of the House.”

He called on the speaker to consider the House rules and the parliamentary tradition globally to avoid undermining the office of the majority leader if the legislature is to be strengthened.

Credit: DailyTrust