Amosun Calls For Urgent Review of 1999 Constitution

By Dipo Olowookere

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has called for a quick review of the 1999 Constitution in order for the country to achieve its desired socio-economic growth.

Mr Amosun made this call in Abeokuta at the opening ceremony of the retreat organised by the House of Representatives Special Ad-Hoc Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution.

He noted that the nation’s socio-economic and political life is largely affected by imbalances in the constitution.

The Governor explained that previous attempts to amend the constitution have failed due to ethnic interest and mutual distrust among the federating unit.

He said the retreat entitled, ‘The Imperatives of Constitution Review and amendment in nation building,’ will do justice to issues such as derivation formula, revenue allocation, fiscal federalism, resource control, marginalisation, creation of Local government among others.

While expressing optimism that the Committee will justify its responsibility in achieving desired objectives, Governor Amosun urged it to guard against all actions that will compromise the unity of the country.

He urged the committee to produce an acceptable constitution that will serve as the blueprint for social economic and political development of the country.

Declaring the retreat opened, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, who was represented by the majority leader of the House, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, said to make progress as a nation, issues such as local Government funding, functions, structure and elections need to be reformed.

On his part, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives who also doubles as the Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Mr Sulaimon Lasun Yusuff, assured that the committee would come up with recommendations that would benefit the citizens and move the country forward.