By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo Twenty-six years of its existence as an extant law, the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
Twenty-six years of its existence as an extant law, the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has failed to effectively address the governance challenges facing the country, despite several amendments.
This assertion topped the positions of the discussants at June 12 Annual Public Lecture organized by the Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN), a foremost civil society cum pro-democracy organization in Nigeria.
The lecture, which was held to commemorate the 2025 Democracy Day in the country with the theme, “The Role of Opposition Political Parties in Deepening Democracy,” took place on Friday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital city.
Delivering a welcome address, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, CHRAN’s State Director, who underscored the significance of democratic governance, despite the myriad challenges facing the nation, lamented that the 1999 Constitution, despite numerous amendments, has failed to adequately address Nigeria’s complex problems.
CHRAN noted that the current Nigerian democracy is founded on a Constitution that the General Abdulsalami Abubakar–led military junta hurriedly packaged and imposed on Nigerians using Decree No. 24 of 1999.
According to CHRAN, ‘This Constitution that is twenty six (26) years in existence, has not effectively addressed Nigeria’s multifarious problems and challenges despite several amendments. There is no doubt that the extant Constitution requires a fundamental review, if not a complete overhaul.
Pointing out grey areas, CHRAN stated, saying, “For instance, Section 2(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), states that Nigeria shall be a federation consisting of States and a Federal Capital Territory. It excludes the local government areas as part of the federation thus impeding grassroots development in Nigeria.
“In Section 7(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, the system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is guaranteed. But the funding of the local government areas is tied to the apron-strings and control of the state governments in Section 162(6) of the Constitution, which states that each state shall maintain a special account to be called “State Joint Local Government Account” into which shall be paid all allocations to the local government councils of the state from the Federation Account and from the government of the state.”.
Citing the recent judgment of the Supreme Court on financial autonomy to local government councils, CHRAN has berated both federal and state governments for not implementing the judgment, thus, making it an academic exercise with negative effects to grassroots development.
“The State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) is provided for in section 197(1)(b) of the Constitution while its funding is in the hands of state governments, making the SIECs an appendage of the state governors. The CHRAN called for deletion of section 197(1) that established SIECs and in its place create a national commission for the conduct of local government elections in the country. This will ensure free, fair and credible elections into the local government councils in Nigeria.” CHRAN added.
Highlighting also the current system’s shortcoming, CHRAN has advocated for independent candidacy to further enrich the multi-party system and broaden voters choice, adding that the current political trend of self-serving defections from opposition political parties to the ruling party, should be checked as it has posed a serious threat to country’s hard-earned democracy.
CHRAN also posited that for the Deepening of the nation’s democracy, opposition political parties must not be depleted, drained or silenced, just as Nigerians must resist the temptation of turning the country into a one-party State since opposition political parties are necessary to safeguard democracy.
In his keynote address, Prof Aniekan Brown described the current trend of cross carpeting by elected public office holders from one political party to another without losing his or her seat, as a cross violation of the standard democratic practice, that must be checked if the nation’s democracy must be deepened.
Brown, who is the Dean, Faculty of social sciences in the University of Uyo, also described the development as a point of history in the country.
According to him, political parties should have ideologies that are development-oriented and encourage checks and balances, just as politicians should accept ups and downs as well as stand tall and stand firm with where they found themselves.
He likened the 26 years of democratic dispensation in Nigeria to a child play and learning process when compared to the western world.
“In Nigeria, Yes, 26 years of uninterrupted democratic disposition, no doubt but compared to a place like the United States that is pursuing 300 years,
I tell you, we are non-status.” Prof Brown asserted.
Also in their separate remarks, HRM Edidem Edet Akpan Inyang, the Paramount Ruler of Itu local government area of state who was the Father of Day and Obongawan Nkoyo Ekpo, who was Mother of the Day emphasised the need for emplacement of the political process that will promote free, fair and credible elections in the country so as to strengthen opposition political parties.
They commended CHRAN for standing for what is right, promoting good governance and projecting accountability.
The public lecture which had, the former Commissioner for Justice/Attorney- General in the State, Victor Iyanam, Esq. featured award of excellence to deserving members of the public in the state.
They include Rt Hon Ime Bassey Okon, Member representing Itu-Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency; Hon Prince Ukpong Akpabio – member representing Essien Udim State Constituency and Sen John James Akpanudoedehe among others.
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