The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) located in Jos, has been called upon to take a critical look at the Nigerian constitution with a view to offering their inputs that would ensure workable amendments of the constitution embarked upon by the National Assembly. The call was made by the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio during an interactive session with the NIPSS Course 32 participants recently at the Government House in Uyo. The governor who was represented by his deputy, Engr. Patrick Ekpotu said that some areas of the constitution needed to be amended to guarantee the needed political stability in the country.

Chief Akpabio opined that the issue of separation of powers among the three tiers of government was faulty under the current constitution and should be amended to ensure proper decentralization of power among the tiers. The governor said that the principle of separation of powers have been respected by the people to the extent that “at just one occasion, our constitution attempted to suspend the recognition of the principle, and the result was a state of emergency”.

The governor further explained that “once a state of emergency is imposed on a state, an administrator is appointed, the National Assembly then administers that state by approving the budget and several other requirements for the administrator to rule, and the question remains: why should this federal reserved power now intervene at a point in the state when citizens have already lost their lives”?

Governor Akpabio stated that “The constitution requires amendment so that they can intervene at a point before the problem degenerates to a point where citizens begin to lose their lives and where properties are destroyed before a state of emergency is imposed”. According to him, “These are necessary areas that we are supposed to look at.” The state governor lamented that the direct result of vesting too much powers in the federal government has affected Akwa Ibom State. According to him, it has become increasingly difficult for the state to distribute electricity from its independent power plant, which has since been completed while the state continues to suffer perennial power outage.

The governor wondered why a nation at 50 years has hitherto not found solutions to some national issues such as corruption, stable democracy, and other associated problems, describing NIPSS as the bastion of hope for the nation.

Meanwhile the NIPSS participants, currently on a study tour of the state have visited a number of government bodies and facilities in Akwa Ibom State. According to the leader of the Study Group Two of the institute, Mrs. B. A. Oloketuji, the theme for this year’s study: ‘Imperative of Sustainability of National Security and Democratic Stability,” was timely as their study visit to the state would further equip them with the best measures of ensuring good governance. She noted the huge projects initiated by the state government as well as those completed in the spirit of continuity and commended the government for her effort.

On their visit to the Ibom International Airport, the Chairman, Ibom Airport Development Authority, Air Cmdr. Idongesit Nkanga (Rtd.), and other officials of the Airport Authority conducted the team round the airport facility explaining its huge benefits to Nigeria and Africa in general. The chairman urged the team to impress on the federal government to support the project and give waiver on the materials imported for the airport development.

Speaking, the director of research of the institute, Prof Olufemi Obafemi commended the cordial relationship existing between the state government and other stakeholders and assured that all grey areas would be addressed in their recommendations at the completion of their study tour.