The presidential committee on the review of constitutional conferences on the amendment of the nation’s Constitution on Tuesday, submitted its report to President Goodluck Jonathan, calling for an independent, incorruptible and stabilizing local government system.
Chairman of the committee, retired Justice Alfa Belgore says a sound local government is necessary in order to deepen the principles of democracy and sound management at the grass roots.
While presenting the committee’s report, Justice Belgore stated that the procedures Nigeria inherited from the colonial times originally meant for jury “has not helped the speedy dispensation of justice”.
He observed that even the British have done away with the procedures while Nigeria still insists on them as sacrosanct, which is “unfortunate”.
The committee recommend that the Chief Justice of Nigeria must be empowered to set up a council to, from time to time, set up rules of court both civil and criminal and that such councils should be representative of the judiciary, the bar, the private sector and government.
President Jonathan, while receiving the report, commended the committee for paying justified attention to the local government administration.
He said that he is convinced that the greatest asset of democracy is the commitment of people at the grass root to the ideals of transparency, accountability and good governance.
