The South-West Zone of the Conference of Speakers of State Assemblies has urged the National Assembly to implement robust legislation aimed at resolving boundary disputes throughout the country.
During the second day of the South-West Zonal Public Hearing on the Review of the 1999 Constitution held in Lagos, the conference chairman, Adeoye Aribasoye, emphasized the importance of addressing these conflicts. He stated that the ongoing review represents a critical opportunity to tackle issues stemming from boundary disagreements.
“It is unacceptable for us to be at odds over boundary issues. The Yoruba community should not be in conflict over such matters,” asserted Mr Aribasoye. He highlighted the significant role of the National Boundary Commission in mitigating these disputes and called for immediate action to prevent ongoing conflicts.
Additionally, Mr Aribasoye advocated for the establishment of state police, referencing the region’s security initiative, “Amotekun,” as part of the broader strategy to enhance safety. He also suggested the creation of new states to facilitate closer governance and encourage greater public involvement.
“Hence, we urge the 10th National Assembly to swiftly consider and approve the existing proposals for state creation,” he added.
Addressing concerns regarding the arbitrary removal of presiding officers in state assemblies, Mr Aribasoye highlighted the need for clearer legislative provisions to prevent such occurrences, which he described as prevalent.
As the speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, he also raised issues regarding the inauguration of elected lawmakers, particularly instances where governors fail to inaugurate opposition members for trivial reasons. He proposed that the clerk of the house be empowered constitutionally to handle proclamations, ensuring that all elected representatives are inaugurated without obstruction.
In response, Deputy Senate President Jubrin Barau, representing the Senate Constitution Review Committee, clarified that the constitution already delineates how assemblies should regulate their proceedings. He emphasized that amendments should focus on house rules rather than the constitution itself.
Various organisations, including youth, student, and women’s groups, contributed to the public hearing.