—Plead with PASAN over ongoing indefinite strike–
ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi-
The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has advocated for the creation of state police across the 36 States of the country and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
It stated that this was the best way to solve the security challenges facing the country.
This was contained in a communique issued at the end of three days 1st Quarter General Meeting of the Conference of the Forum which was held at the Hazibal Event Center, Bauchi, with 30 States represented.
The Chairman of the Forum and Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Suleiman, who read the communique at the end of the meeting, said that the issue of insecurity was a major agenda of discussion at the meeting.
He said: “The Conference decries the spate of insecurity in the Country; and while commending the Federal Government on its efforts at fighting the insecurity in the Country, the Conference calls on the Federal Government to tinker with the security architecture in the country to reflect the demographic reality of our country”.
“In other words, the Conference advocates for Community Policing or state Police as the best way out of the problems.”
Hon. Suleiman said that the Conference also pleaded with the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) to exercise restraint on its struggle.
He said that a committee has been set up to engage the Association with a view to resolving the lingering issues that led to the industrial action.
Speaking on the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution, Hon. Suleiman said that another committee was set up to articulate and submit inputs of the Conference in the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution.
He added that the issue of autonomy for State Legislatures was also discussed.
“After exhaustive deliberation, the Conference issued the following resolutions at the end of the meeting, set up a Constitutional Review Committee”.
“The Terms of Reference of the Committee include articulating and submittion of the inputs of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria in the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“That all the State Houses of Assembly should ensure to pass the Funds Management Bill in their respective State Houses of Assembly for effective implementation of the Financial Autonomy for the State Legislature and Judiciary,” he said.
The Speakers’ Chairman said that the conference expressed appreciation to the Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed for the warm reception extended to the Members of the Conference during their stay in the State for the conference general meeting from 26th to 28th March, 2021.
After the meeting, the Speakers and their entourage paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Dr. Rilwan Suleiman Adamu at his Palace.
Thereafter, they went on an inspection tour of completed and ongoing projects awarded by the Bauchi State Government across the metropolis.
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