We’ll revisit devolution of powers in September ―Gbajabiamila

MAJORITY Leader of the House of Representatives, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila on Tuesday said that devolution of powers which was voted against during the voting exercise on the report of the House special committee on the review of 1999 constitution would be revisited by September when the House resume from its break.

Honourable Gbajabiamila in a statement said that, “many of us will be asking for the issue of devolution of powers to be revisited upon resumption in September. The democratic process was played out as it should be during the voting exercise. However the process is ongoing and not concluded”.

He added that, “under our rules we do have a mechanism which allows for recession of a decision when appropriate or when new unknown facts emerge”.

In addition, he said, “for me it was a mistake or oversight to have lumped all items for devolution under one umbrella or subhead titled devolution of powers. There were about 9 items including Railways, Pensions, Arbitration, Stamp Duties, Parks and others under the subhead and members should have voted on each rather than vote in one fell swoop. A member may have agreed to certain items for devolution to states and not to others. The way we voted one would never know how to pass judgment on each item.

“I believe each item should stand or fall on its own merit. It is important to note that devolution of powers is baby steps and the simplest form of reconstruction not a surgical dismemberment of our country. We must feel the pulse of the nation in moments like this”, he stated.