Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State: Chairman, APC Committee on Restructuring

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Committee on true federalism and restructuring on Monday said that the party was committed to implement resolutions that would foster national unity.

The Chairman of the committee, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor said this in Enugu during the sitting of the committee for the South East zone.

Osunbor said that the committee had ‘no go areas’ in the course of it deliberations.

He said that the party was not averse to restructuring, adding that the APC constitution and party manifesto left nothing in doubt about the party’s commitment to the ideas and principles.

“Article 7 of the party’s constitution commits the party to promote and foster the unity, political stability and national consciousness of the people of Nigeria as well as promote true federalism,” he said.

The former governor of Edo said that the committee has the mandate to interface and engage with members of the party and others on the burning issues.

He said that the party’s manifesto was committed to implementing efficient public financial management strategies and restructure governance in ways that would kick-start the political economy for a better future.

He said that the party was also committed to devolving more revenue and powers to the states and local government areas for decision making to get closer to the people.

“The policy of the party in fulfilling these commitments is to listen to the people and engage them in the debates. This event represents an important step towards the fulfilment of that commitment,” Osunbor said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that key issues listed for deliberation were: creation/merger of states, derivation principles, devolution of powers, federating units, fiscal federalism and revenue allocation.

Others were form of government, independent candidacy, land tenure system, local government autonomy, power sharing and rotation.

The rest are resource control and type of legislature.

However, Osunbor said: “Other issues outside those listed are not foreclosed. So, please, feel free to address any issues that you strongly believe deserve our attention.

NAN further reports that some speakers at the consultation supported states as federating units while others opted for regional government.

They appealed to the Federal Government to create additional state in the Southeast in the first instance to bring it at par with what other zones.

On resource control, speakers favoured tinkering of the subsisting revenue sharing formula and for the government to come up with a workable percentage that federating states would contribute to the centre.