Gbajabiamila: Mistake to put devolution of power under one sub-head

Femi Gbajabiamila, majority leader of the house of representatives, says putting the items of devolution power under one sub-head in the constitution alteration bill was a mistake.

Last week,  a provision for devotion of power in the proposed amendments to the 1999 constitution failed at both chambers of the national assembly.

In a statement on Tuesday, Smart Olanrewaju, media aide of the house leader, quoted Gbajabiamila as saying the process  of considering the bill was not concluded.

Gbajabiamila said the house rules provide for a rescission of a decision of the lower legislative chamber “when new unknown facts emerge”.

According to him, each item on devolution of power should stand or fall on its own merit.

“Many of us will be asking for the issue of devolution of powers to be revisited upon resumption in September. The democratic process was played out as it should be during the voting exercise. However the process is on going and not concluded,” he said.

“Under our rules we do have a mechanism which allows for rescission of a decision when appropriate or when new unknown facts emerge.

“For me it was a mistake or oversight to have lumped all items for devolution under one umbrella or sub-head titled devolution of powers.

“There were about nine items including railways, pensions, arbitration, stamp duties, parks and others under the sub-head and members should have voted on each rather than vote in one fell swoop. A member may have agreed to certain items for devolution to states and not to others.

“The way we voted one would never know how to pass judgment on each item. I believe each item should stand or fall on its own merit. It is important to note that devolution of power is baby steps and the simplest form of reconstruction not a surgical dismemberment of our country. We must feel the pulse of the nation in moments like this.”