Prof. Peter Lassa, a renowned Nigerian Professor of Mathematics has called for a total overhaul of the current Nigeria Constitution and the need for a new one.
Prof. Lassa made the call on Monday during a press conference held at the Plateau State Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ.
Prof. Lassa, a former Executive Secretary of the National Council for Colleges of Education (NCCE), said the current Nigeria Constitution was written and adopted by a military era and does not reflect the views of majority of Nigerians.
He said the entire provisions of the 1999 constitution does not promote good governance and is totally inconsistent with the realities of Nigeria’s continued existence as an independent nation.
“Our present Constitution with several amendments has created more confusion than correcting some lapses”, he said.
Prof. Lassa cited different interpretations of the 1999 constitution, especially in Edo State where Governor Monday Okpebholor asked councillors to impeach elected local government chairmen in clear contravention of the court ruling
He also cited the case of former Governor Godwin Obaseki who failed to inaugurate the full complement of the state assembly, opting to operate with few members for four years until his tenure elapsed.
According to him, “On the issue of, Local Government autonomy, recently the Supreme Court gave judgment in favor of the autonomy of Local governments, but the issue is that it is inconsistent with the provisions of the 1999 constitution as amended, especially Section 162(5). He said these are clear examples of constitutional confusions.
“We do not need a Constitution that is poorly drafted, poorly amended and open to different interpretations but a brand-new Constitution of the People, by the People and for the People, which is well drafted, devoid of multiple interpretations, and Consistency in expression and wording”, he said.
Prof Lassa also pointed the inconsistencies in the operation of the security architecture in Nigeria, where, though governors are said to be chief security officers of their state, but they cannot give orders to commissioners of police in their states.
The former NCCE scribe said that “the 1999 constitution as amended has not given Nigerians the Government that meets their aspiration but instead, has consistently given them terrible leadership.
“It has given us unimaginable poverty, it has given room for breeding insecurity, and we keep seeing new sects raising their heads, Boko haram, bandits, unknown gunmen, herdsmen, Lakurawa and others. Our educational system has been degraded especially with the staggering number of out of school children. This constitution has constantly aided corruption because the system has been rigged to produce the worse of the worst.” Prof. Lassa further added
It could be recalled that during public hearing on the 1999 constitution review by the House of Representatives, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, (PFN), also called on Nigeria to discard the current constitution to have a new one that will reflect the true collective interest of the Nigeria people instead of amending what does not in anyway reflect their yearnings.