The committee set up by the All Progressives Congress (APC) on true federalism Thursday, January 25, submitted its report to the National Working Committee of the party.
The committee, headed by the Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, was commended by the party leadership for a job well done.
The committee’s report was received in Abuja by APC’s national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun who promised the party leadership would study the report and its recommendations before the end of February.
Highlights of 10 things recommended by the El-Rufai committee on restructuring.
Independent candidacy: The committee recommended the introduction of independent candidacy in the nation’s electoral process but such candidates must not be a member of any registered political party at least six months before such an election and must meet other qualifications and requirements provided for by the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
State Police: The report advocated the setting up of state police which would operate along side the federal police. It also recommended same for the prison service.
Local Government: It recommended the scrapping of local government as third tier of government, saying true federalism only accommodates two tiers of government.
Mineral resources: The report also proposed the amendment of Petroleum Act to allow states to control their mineral resources, except when it affects offshore oil.
Constitutional amendments: The committee also recommended that there should be a constitutional amendment to allow for a referendum to be conducted on burning national or state issues before decisions are taken. The panel noted that the present Constitution had no room for referendum except as it relates to the creation of states.
Revenue allocation: The committee proposed an amendment to sub-section 2 of the Nigerian Constitution in such a way to give more revenue to the states and reduce federal government’s revenue allocation.
Minimum wage: The committee recommended moving labour issues from the exclusive list to the concurrent list which would enable each state determine and negotiate salaries and entitlements with its workforce or within its domain.
Citizenship: On the issue of citizenship, the committee noted that local government or state of origin was discriminatory and recommended that it should be replaced with state of residence.
It called for amendments which would allow people domiciled in a place to be considered as indigenes.
Narcotics: The committee is of the opinion that narcotics and psychotropic substances should be left on the exclusive list while food, drugs and poison be moved to the concurrent list so that states can also legislate on these items.
Business name and stamp duty: The panel also recommended that the registration of business names should also be moved to the concurrent list so as to allow business names which seek to operate nationwide be registered at the federal level while those who seek to operate only in the states should be registered at the state level.
It also recommended that the federal government be responsible for the collection of duties from the Limited Liabilities Companies while states handle collection of such duties from individuals and small business.
However, the recommendations by the committee are subject to approval by the National Assembly before they can be considered for implementation.
