House of chiefs should be the next (3), by Eric Teniola

This week, we continue  the series on why the House of Chiefs should be considered by the National Assembly

(iii) The payment, issue or withdrawal from the Consolidated Revenue Fund or any other public fund of the Region of any moneys not charged thereon or any alteration in the amount of such a payment, issue or withdrawal; or

(iv) The composition or remission of any debt due to the Region; (b) proceed upon any amendment to any bill that, in the opinion of the person presiding, makes provision for any of those purposes; (c) proceed upon any motion (including any amendment to a motion) the effect of which, in the opinion of the person presiding, would be to make provision for any of those purposes; or (d) receive any petition that, in the opinion of the person presiding, requests that provision be made for any of those purposes. (2) Except upon the recommendation of the Governor signified by not a Minister of the Government of the Region, the House of Assembly shall not——

(a) Proceed upon any bill (including an amendment to a bill) that, in the opinion of the person presiding, makes provision for any of the following purposes— (i) the imposition of taxation or the alteration of taxation otherwise than by reduction; (ii) the imposition of any charge upon the Consolidated Revenue Fund or any other public fund of the Region or the alteration of any such charge otherwise than by reduction; (iii) the payment, issue or withdrawal from the Consolidated Revenue Fund or any other public fund of the Region of any moneys not charged thereon or any increase in the amount of such a payment, issue or withdrawal; or (iv) the composition or remission of any debt due to the Region;

(b) proceed upon any motion (including any amendment to a motion) the effect of which, in the opinion of the person presiding, would be to make provision for any of those purposes; or (c) receive any petition that, in the opinion of the person presiding, requests that provision be made for any of those purposes.”

All four regions had Houses of Chiefs until 1966.

From 1966 until 1975, the military were in power and there was no attempt to make a new constitution. In 1975, the then Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed, constituted a 50-member Committee on Constitution Drafting. It was headed by Chief Rotimi Williams, SAN, the former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General in the Western Region. He was also a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association. The secretary of the committee was Alhaji Gidado Idris, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Kaduna State. He was assisted by Mr. R.C.O. Nwokedi, Mrs. O.O. Onajide, Mr. A. Obilade and Dr. O.A. Obozuwa.

Others were Mr. E. Omofuma, Mr. O. Ogunade, Mr. J.O. Oyefeso, Mrs. A.T. Kole, Mrs. M.M. Wuraola, Mr. J.E. Ikebude, Mr. J.E. Ikebude, Mr. R.O. Akpabio, Mrs. J.O. Adeyem-Wilson, Mrs. V.O. Odunuga, Mrs. M.M. Albert, Mrs. P.C. Adiele, Mr. A.O. Iyiola, Mr. E.O. Ajiboye, Mrs. J.T. Okechukwu, Mr. E.I. Ojogwu, Miss A.E. Anwana, Mr. J.A. Adesanwo, Mr. Ben Enahoro, Mr. N. Oeekan and Mr. P. Nwajei.

The Rotimi Williams committee then established seven subcommittees. The subcommittee on the executive and legislature was headed by Alhaji F.G. Rasaq. Other members were Dr. E. Eleazu, Alhaji Sule Gaya, Dr. I. Ahmed, Dr. Kole Abayomi, Mr. F. Okunnu, Dr. G.A. Odenigwe, Mr. S.G. Ikoku, Alhaji Shehu Malami and Dr. K.O. Mbadiwe.

Section 2 of the recommendations of the subcommittee states that “experience has shown that in periods of crisis in this country, the one stable element is traditional authority. The persons who represent this traditional authority can play a moderating role when the inevitable instability inherent in a dynamic situation threatens to destroy the corporate existence of the nation-state. We have therefore felt it necessary that this moderating influence be introduced at the highest level. It is our hope that the national legislature should attain such stature in the minds of Nigerians as to provide an image of solidity and permanence that can serve as a rudder to our ship of state.”

They stated further in Section 2.8 that “The Governor shall consult the State Council of Chiefs as a body in the exercise of his powers in relation to the following matters: 

maintenance of public order, customary and cultural affairs, inter-communal relations, chieftaincy affairs and such other matters as may be referred to it by the Governor. Furthermore, the Council of Chiefs shall elect one senator from themselves to represent the State in the Senate.”