Reps Disown Trending Draft Bill Seeking Return to Regional Government
The House of Representatives has disowned a trending draft bill advocating a return to the regional government system.
Titled “A Bill for an Act to substitute the annexure to Decree 24 of 1999 with a new governance model for the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the draft proposes new laws to be cited as “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria New Governance Model for Nigeria Act 2024.”
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The document, which has gained traction on social media, was drafted by Dr. Akin Fapohunda, who is neither a lawmaker in the Senate nor the House of Representatives, indicating it is a private bill.
House spokesman Akin Rotimi, in a telephone conversation with our correspondent, said, “The Committees on Rules and Business and Constitution Review have confirmed that there is no such bill before them.”
Similarly, Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, told PUNCH Online that the bill is not before the committee.
“There are two routes to making presentations for constitutional amendments. One is by members proposing an amendment bill during plenary. The second is by memoranda from individuals and groups to the Constitution Review Committee,” Waive said. “Memoranda submitted should eventually come by way of bills sponsored by a committee member. I doubt if this draft bill has come before the Rules and Business Committee for listing.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Fapohunda spoke with our correspondent exclusively on Friday. He stated, “I retired from public service as a director in the Presidency. I have a PhD in Agricultural Science and am involved in Information and Communication Technology. I have been involved in constitution drafting for years.”
Explaining his motivation, Fapohunda said, “The President, this week, returned us to the old national anthem. At independence, Nigeria embraced a regional government system. So, I felt we could revisit the past and return to regionalism. I have drafted a preliminary proposal for Nigerians to consider.
Next week, I will meet my representative in the House of Representatives, hoping that senators and House members will embrace this modest proposal for change. If acceptable, we can then sit down and properly draft the bill.”
