National Conference Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government yesterday agreed to recommend a unicameral legislature for the country contrary to what operates currently.
It was agreed that representation at the National Assembly should be on equal representation of 50 percent on the basis of equality of states and 50 percent on the basis of population of each states.
Though some members of the committee proposed 60 percent representation in favour of population and 40 percent for equality of states, others were of the opinion that 50 percent representation by population and 50 percent through equality of states would serve the country better.
Co-Chairman of the committee, Mohammed Kumaila said, “We agreed that there should be a unicameral legislature with one House of Parliament at the national level as opposed to what we have today.
“In taking this decision, we took cognizance of the fact that the Senate as we have it today with equality of states as the guiding factor while population is what determines representation at the House of Representatives.
“We have to reflect the two factors so that no segment of the State would feel neglected or undermined.
“The decision was fair, futuristic and will build the country on a solid foundation because the issue of population is critical.
“There is no way we can compare Yobe and Kano when it comes to population, so, if we pick 100 percent representation on the basis of population, states like Kano would be disadvantaged as all would have the same number of representatives notwithstanding their population.
“That is why we say the other half of 50 percent should be based on population because the parliament is about representing the people. Moreover we are also of the opinion that the 50-50 option would be easier to adopt at the plenary as all interests would have been taken care of”.
Gen Ike Nwachukwu therefore appealed that the Committee should not be embarrassed by those whose opinions were not accommodated by the Committee at arriving at the decision.
He said the interest of the country should be paramount at all times in the minds of the delegates.
