HEREWITH IS OGUNMUPE CONSTITUTION REVIEW MEMORANDUM

Consequent upon your invitation for memoranda for the review of Nigerian Constitution, herewith is my memorandum for the review of Nigeria Constitution 1999, as amended. 1, I urge you to restructure Nigeria to six regions along the geopolitical zones. Each region will have its own police force, regional assembly with the same number of members they currently have in the present House of Representatives. On restructuring of the federation; all the legislative houses: the senate, house of Representatives, regional assembly, state assembly, local government council and Area council, all shall be on part time basis with only the principal officers being on full time salary. There should not be constituency projects. All projects belong to the executive. 2, There shall not be autonomy for local governments. 3, Revenue allocation should be on the basis of derivation. The regions shall control all in their land. They only pay tax to the federal government. Revenue allocation should be in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution 1963. 4, There shall be Regional Police which could be cheaply maintained by the regional government. Current insolvent states cannot maintain viable police forces, which is why regional police will be more viable. 5, There shall be a 15 member Supreme Court of Nigeria composed of nothing less than two members from each region at any given time. 6, The Independent National Electoral Commission shall conduct only federal elections for President, Senate and House of Representatives. The Regional Election Commissions shall conduct regional, governorship, state, local and Area council elections, like in the USA. 10, The immunity clause should be expunged from the Constitution. 12, The bicameral National Assembly should be maintained. But only principal officers shall be paid full time. Other members shall be paid on part time. 13, I have recommended the creation of Regions, six in all along the lines of the current geopolitical zones. The current states are unviable, regions should supervise them. I am opposed to the creation of more states except that we should annex Amazonia, the English speaking province of Cameroon. 14, The current Presidential term of eight years should be replaced by one term of six years. Faithfully yours, Chief Bayo Ogunmupe, Economics columnist, The Guardian Newspapers, Rutam House, Isolo, Lagos, Nigeria.