There’ll be huge constitutional amendment if I become president, says Amaechi

Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation and ex-governor of Rivers state, has promised to amend the Nigerian constitution if elected president in 2027.

His constitutional amendment proposal would include granting financial autonomy to LGAs, he said.

Amaechi spoke on Saturday during an X Spaces conversation.

BACKGROUND

On July 11, 2024, the supreme court ruled that the federal government must pay allocations directly to LGAs and barred state governors from appointing caretaker committees to run councils.

The apex court also directed the federal government to withhold funds from LGAs headed by caretaker chairpersons.

Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation, had described the ruling as a decisive step in freeing the local government system “from the shackles of the past”.

‘SUPREME COURT WAS WRONG’

During the X discussion, Amaechi said any changes, such as direct funding of LGAs, should be done through proper constitutional amendments by the national assembly and not the supreme court.

The former Rivers governor criticised the supreme court ruling, describing it as flawed and insisting that a significant constitutional amendment would be imperative should he assume office.

He harped on the need to establish an independent local government authority through constitutional reform.

“I will amend the constitution. I will go for a constitutional amendment. That judgment by the supreme court was wrong. I won’t go the way of the supreme court. I won’t go the way of the Tinubu government,” he said.

“There would be a huge constitutional amendment if I win, where we would address everything about Nigeria.

“We will sit down with everybody that matters to discuss Nigeria, including local government administration. If I get to power, there would be independent local government authority but that would be by constitutional amendment.

“The constitution says the funds of the local government goes to the Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC). That part of the constitution was not amended, that’s why I said supreme court was wrong.”

Amaechi also pledged to overhaul the electoral system for LGAs by creating “truly independent” electoral commissions not tied to the apron strings of governors.

“I will not be part of those who want to hijack the state independent electoral commission. Part of the constitution amendment is to create an independent electoral commission that is not appointed by the governor,” he added.

“Part of the amendment is that the local government tenure will be three to four years. When that tenure expires, the governor will not call for election, the state independent electoral commission will call for election.”