By UMA ELEAZU
THE Western Region also had two chambers- a House of Assembly and a House of Chiefs. But the Eastern Region, which prided itself in being republican, had only a House of Assembly. Each Region had its own electoral laws. Whereas the East had universal adult suffrage, the North had only male adult suffrage. The West had a tax-adult suffrage. Each Region designed what suited it. Revenue for the Governments came from various forms of Tax (personal income, sales, corporate income etc), Customs and Excise Duties, Rent and Royalties etc
In 1954, it was agreed that in moving towards Independence from Britain, it would be better to stay together as a Federation, so that each component part (aka Federating unit) can maintain its unique cultural features, including religion, but surrender certain of its powers to legislate and govern its people to the Central Government (now known as Federal Government), Those areas of legislation given up became known as Exclusive Legislative List, Some grey areas were left as areas of Concurrent powers to make laws provided that any law made by a Region that was in conflict with that of the Federal Government in the same area, the Federal law would supersede.
It was also decided that along with powers ceded to the Central Government, portions of revenue collected were to be paid into a distributable pool which would again be shared according to a formula to be agreed. On that basis the Eastern and Western Regions were granted Self Governing status in 1956.
Between 1956 and 1966, we practised true federalism. Our elected Representatives duly adopted and passed the British Order in Council 1960, which became the Independence ( 1960) Constitution and later enacted it as our National Republican Constitution in 1963.So, any restructuring must use the 1963 constitution as a basis because it was this 1963 Constitution that the military abrogated in 1966 along with its fiscal arrangements.
Someone will say, Ah! A lot of water has passed under the bridge since 1963. Yes, but also a lot has gone wrong with our federal structure. From four regions divided into 27 provinces governed by 237 English men (one Resident per province, supported by District Officers and Assistant District Officers) working with local clerks and interpreters; we now have 36 unviable states, divided into 774 Local government Areas , and governed by 36 Governors and their Special assistants; , approximately 600 Commissioners and their special assistants and as many Transitional Chairmen of LGAs as the Governors may decide. In addition, there are 36 State civil services and a local government service in each state.
Yet, most of these states cannot deliver on law and order, or able to provide even the basic services to their people such as schools, hospitals, refuse disposal and rural roads etc These bloated bureaucracies in the states cannot extract any internally generated revenue because they are not able to generate growth. They cannot collect taxes and account for it. Most states don’t even know the number of taxable adults and corporate citizens in their states. The major source of income is the aggregated Federation Account dished out to states monthly by the Federal Ministry of Finance. In one state I know, the Exco meets once a month, the State legislature also meets once a month. You guessed right , they meet to share what has come in from Abuja. In fact the Local Government Transitional Chairman of one Local Government I know, lives permanently in the State House, His council meets whenever he visits the village.
Talk about corruption, it is embedded in the 1999 Constitution. For example, Governors have immunity from prosecution, so even when the citizens know their Governor is stealing their money, he is beyond the law. So immunity becomes impunity to steal, kill and destroy. Only few states hold Local Government elections.
When we were creating these States and Local Governments Areas, it was rationalized as “bringing government nearer to the people”. Now, all we have succeeded in doing is bringing corruption and impunity nearer to the people.
Most state Legislatures are simply House of Drones. Local government councils hardly exist. Most honorable members are in the pockets of the Governors and so cannot carry out any legislative oversight on the executive branch. And we still think we have democracy?
In one state that I know, the outgoing governor installed his son as Speaker of the House to keep the incoming Governor in check. When the Speaker sneezes, the Governor catches cold.
This is not what we bargained for. This is neither democracy nor federalism. We must restructure such that good governance will be by the people for the people.
The situation at the Federal level is not much different. In the olden days, any bill, especially Government bill going to the National Assembly is promptly published in the government’s OFFICIAL gazette. Any member of the public can buy it and read and if he is so disposed can appear before the relevant committee when the bill has gone into Committee stage, to raise his/her objections or make relevant input. In a democracy, citizens have the right to make input into the legislative process.
I once listened to an interview of a Senator on Channels TV. When asked what they have achieved in the last year, he said they have about 635 bills before the Senate. Question: How many have been passed into law? He evaded the question and started lecturing the young lady on the process of passing a bill to give the impression that these things take some time.
Question: Ok, how many bills have been passed into law. He started talking about the big burden of carrying out Legislative oversight on all the MDAs. And, we know what happens during these so called oversight functions. The Ministry or Department to be “oversighted” has to provide the committee with transport and other goodies. This is in addition to the allowances paid officially to them for their jobs.
Concluded
.Elder (Dr.) Eleazu writes from Lagos.