The All Progressives Congress Committee on True Federalism has recommended a solution to the indigenes/settlers debate in the country, saying the “state of origin” should be replaced with “state of residence”.
This was one of the 10 far-reaching recommendations made by the committee led by Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
According to the committee, identifying Nigerians by state of origin was discriminatory and “should be replaced with state of residence.”
Presenting the report of its recommendations to the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led APC National Working Committee, at a ceremony in Abuja, on Thursday, the committee proposed an amendment to the Federal Character Commission Act to allow any Nigerian domiciled in a place to be considered an indigene of the place.
The committee also recommended more devolution of power to the states, calling for many items on the exclusive legislative list to be moved to the concurrent legislative list so that both federal and state governments can legislate on them.
The items highlighted by the committee include: food, drugs and poison; labour issues; mines, minerals, oilfields and mining, geological surveys and natural gas; police; prison; registration of business names; collection of stamp duty; and independent candidature during elections.
El-Rufai said, “We believe that if these amendments are passed by the National Assembly, they will significantly re-balance our federation, devolve more powers to the states, reduce the burden of the Federal Government and make our country work better.”
Responding, Odigie-Oyegun said, “From the presentation of the chairman of this committee, everybody now has an idea of what the APC stands for as regards true federalism and restructuring. This is the totality of our views, but it is still going to go through the mill.”
He added, “I am going to promise that before the middle of February, it would have been considered and decided upon by the major structures of this party, the National Executive Council, the caucus of the party.
“Whatever is thereafter agreed on will be presented to the authorities as the considered views and decisions of the APC for appropriate implementation.”