The South-West Zone of the Conference of Speakers of State Assemblies has called on the National Assembly to enact strong laws to address boundary disputes in the country.

The chairman of the conference in the zone, Adeoye Aribasoye, made the call while speaking on Day 2 of the South-West Zonal Public Hearing on the Review of the 1999 Constitution in Lagos on Friday.

The Senate Committee on the Constitution Review, on Friday and Saturday, conducted public hearings on requests for the review of the constitution across the geo-political zones.

Mr Aribasoye said the ongoing constitution review should be used as an opportunity to address conflicts arising from boundary disputes.

“It is not good that we fight ourselves over issues of boundaries. Yoruba people should not be fighting themselves over boundaries.

“The bulk of this problem lies with the National Boundary Commission. Help us look into this in the South-West to resolve it so that we won’t be fighting ourselves all the time.

“We plead that on your end to look into it. We seek laws that will address the problem once and for all,” Mr Aribasoye said.

The chairman also called for the creation of state police, noting that the zone’s establishment of the security outfit codenamed “Amotekun” was part of its efforts to tackle insecurity.

Mr Aribasoye also called for the creation of more states to bring the government closer to the people, and promote inclusiveness and participation in governance.

“Hence, the proposal for the state creation already submitted to the 10th National Assembly should be speedily considered and approved this time around,” he said.

Speaking on issues bothering the state legislature, Mr Aribasoye said the recurrent arbitrary removal of presiding officers should be stopped through legislative provisions.

“This is rampant at the state assemblies, and what we are saying is that the provision for the removal of presiding officers is too vague in the constitution. I think there should be conditions to be prescribed.

“Fortunately enough, in our rules and standing orders in the South-West, we have actually worked on that.

“We will make this available to the committee (Senate) to see if what we have could be adopted so that arbitrary removal of officers will be, at least, minimised. There should be procedures just like we made it for governors,” he said.

Mr Aribasoye, the speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, also raised concerns about the proclamation of the assembly and the inauguration of elected lawmakers.

According to him, cases abound of state governors refusing to inaugurate opposition lawmakers for ridiculous reasons.

“At the conference, we are thinking that instead of the governor being the one doing the proclamation of the assembly, the clerk of the house should be empowered to do it by the constitution.

“It should be made mandatory that once a person is elected, under no condition should such a person be denied inauguration in the house,” he said.

Responding, Deputy Senate President Jubrin Barau, the president and chairman of the Senate Constitution Review Committee, said the constitution is explicit on how the assembly should regulate its proceedings.

Mr Barau, represented by his vice chairman and Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, said section 60 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) stipulates that the National Assembly shall regulate its proceedings.

“It is on the basis of that that we have rules for ourselves, including rules that border on the removal of presiding officers.

“There is an equivalent provision. Section 101 of the constitution also states that the State House of Assembly shall regulate its own proceedings. If there is anything we need to amend, it is our rules, house rules, rather than the constitution,” Mr Barau said.

Several organisations, including youth, student, and women’s groups, made presentations at the public hearing. 

(NAN)