The National Assembly,
Three Arms zones, Abuja,
Fct 900211.
The Senate President and head of NASS
Federal Republic of Nigeria,
His Excellency Godswill Akpabio and
His Excellency the Speaker Federal House of Representatives
Hon Dr. Tajudeen Abbas

Cc: Hon. Emma Emeruwa
The Speaker Abia State house of assembly.

Dear Sirs,

In respect to the above subject, we hereby humbly write to draw your attention to the inevitable role required of the Senate and Federal House Representative ( NASS) in promoting good governance in Nigeria.
A very thorny and key grey area vis a vis public/masses perception, for example, is that Governors over the years, with all due respect, govern with their discretion rather than by the constitution.

Consequently, the masses at the state level suffer more when Governors, with all due respect, do not practice good governance but operate with impunity. In practical terms, Governors wield the power on how Nigeria is run. Ex President Jonathan had even alluded to this fact. Another issue is that due to distractions at state levels, eg, insecurity, an incumbent Nigerian President would be unable to focus 100% on other national challenges. There is a big disconnect between the executive arm of the FG and the state government, eg, Having carefully observed and widely consulted, accordingly, we can authoritatively say that the NASS is absolutely needed in bringing to reality the new Nigeria that we all are clamoring for, not least, through the following ways:

1. There is a compelling need for the promulgation of law that allows for a single tenure of six years per individual for elected executive office specifically the office of the President and Governors , while the Local Government Chairmen and Deputies and legislators at all levels maintain their status quo. This will reduce the fight for the top jobs and put emphasis on selfless service to the people. It will also neutralise agitation for self-determination.
2. The dividend of democracy can be enjoyed by the people only when the Senate and Federal House of Representatives(NASS) take it upon itself to enact laws that allow each respective state to control its own resources. In practical terms, states shall be made to remit, for example, 30% of their resources to the federal government and keep 70% in addition to other State generated revenue. We are convinced beyond reasonable doubt that if States are allowed to control their resources , the Governors will not only be more accountable, but Nigeria will once again take her rightful position in global affairs.The moment such law or laws is/are enacted and implemented, the pace of development at the State level will be unprecedented & unfathomable. Indeed, joblessness and insecurity, for example, will be reduced to an acceptable minimum. Furthermore, Governors will have no need to travel to Abuja to share and receive their share of the national revenue. This will also help reduce the intense clamour by individuals from different ethnicities to become the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as governance is local( more impactful at the state level.
3. The NASS must, as a matter of priority and necessity, compel the federal government of Nigeria to declare a state of emergency in the health sector and impress on Governors to key in as governance is felt at state levels. This is critical and crucial because the well-being of a nation is measured by the well-being of her citizenry. Hence, the need to invest and give priority attention to the health sector. In order words, free and quality health care should be available to low income earners at least.
4. In order to address the problem of insecurity and to promote peaceful co existence, the Senate should come up with laws that back an increase in the number of the Police force to a minimum number of one million men at Federal level and the armed forces to 500,000 to enable our law enforcement agencies meet the challenges of insecurity.
5. It is evidently remarkable that the government is closer to the people at the state and local government levels, hence the need for a local government autonomy legislation. This will completely prevent state governors from their unnecessary and undemocratic interferences in the activities of the local governments by way of sacking, for example, an LGA chairman instead of via the ballot box. This will also encourage accountability on the part of the LG Chairs and councillors.
6. Another way to bring about good governance and encourage an egalitarian society is to make laws to remove governors’ immunity from criminal prosecution. If this legislation is made and fully implemented, corrupt practices, misappropriation of public funds, abuse of office, and economic mismanagement will die a natural death because anyone found wanting shall be brought to book, in accordance with the law. This will promote sanity, transparency, accountability, and orderliness in governance at the state level. In addition, removing the immunity will enable and empower the state assemblies to ensure they hold their Governors to account while ensuring check and balance between the state executives and legislatures( assemblies). This will have the knock-on effect whereby State assemblies members would be easily held to account by their constituency and by state inhabitants.
7. Financial autonomy for state legislatures and Judiciaries must be guaranteed by laws to be enacted to that effect. This will be a check mating act against the executive arm of the state government by the legislature and judiciary as it ensures the independence of the state assemblies and judiciary , thereby replicating what obtains as Federal level. This will promote the independence of the state assemblies and judiciaries from the financial influence of Governors.
8. The creation of State Police is non-negotiable in the promotion of peaceful coexistence as well as the protection of lives and property at state levels as security is local. Every state should determine the strength of their state police.
   However, there should be effective safeguards to ensure that the State police is not used to hunt down political opponents by incumbent governors.
9. Population control mechanisms/legislation should be put in place whereby we manage and control the rate of population growth vis a vis economic growth. Clearly, our population growth outweighs our economic growth. The policy may make it mandatory that population control via responsible and appropriate family planning be taught in secondary and tertiary institutions. We recommend one man 3 children at the maximum. For the obviously rich, they can afford to have more to a maximum of 6 and a maximum of 8, whereby two kids can be adopted. For the poor or those under poverty level, a maximum of two kids.
10. We call on NASS to legislate to allow diaspora voting. This will enable Nigerians in diaspora to exercise their franchise.
11. The Senate should pass laws that ensure free and compulsory education for all Nigerian children up to vocational level. This will reduce the number of out of school children and, over time, reduce banditry, killer herdsmen menace, and insurgencies.
12. History and anti-corruption subjects should be in our primary and secondary school curriculum. This will neutralise the corrupt practice mindset of Nigerians over time and help promote nation-building and good governance.
13. To enact these laws in earnest, we recommend that there should be open-minded interfaces between the Nass leadership and Governors on one hand, and between the NASS leadership and Speakers and deputy speakers of state assemblies on the other hand.

In conclusion, we call upon the Senate President and the Speaker of the Federal house of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to use their good and exalted position to reshape or transform the political trajectory of Nigeria by doing the needful.

We shall be most grateful if our request is favourably considered and granted
Assurances of our best regards

SIGNED:
Pastor Columbus Izobe-Abumere
BoT Chairman
Fisayo Fakayode (FISFAK)
BoT Vice Chairman/National President
Jerome Okolo
BoT Secretary / National Secretary
Shanu Musiliu Eric (BoT)
Betty O. Anomneze
BoT Publicity Secretary / National Publicity Secretary