In the midst of raging controversies on the proposed relocations of some departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from Abuja to Lagos, a coalition of Northern youth associations has urged Northern members of the National Assembly to immediately exercise their full legislative oversight functions to correct deviation from constitutional ideals.
This is even as the coalition, the Joint Action Committee of Northern Youth Associations, urged members of the House of Representatives and Senate of Northern extractions to urgently call for the sack of CBN governor, Yemi Cardoso and Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo.
The association, in a press release made available to Tribune Online in Abuja stated that the federal lawmakers held a constitutional mandate to ensure that the executive aligned its policies and programmes with constitutional principles being violated by both CBN and FAAN.
According to the release, jointly signed by the group’s convener, Murtala Abubakar; Director, Public Communication and Strategy, Hashim Tom Maiyashi and Director, Gender Mobilisation, Ms Latifa Abdussalam, respectively, resorting to legal proceedings could be interpreted as a sign of
procrastination.
“The urgency of the matter requires expeditious legislative action to correct these deviations from our constitutional ideals.
“Reports in the media indicate that the group of Senators elected by the people of the North and whom they represent in the Red Chambers, muted (sic) the idea of taking the Federal Government to Court on the matter.
“Instead of taking the Federal Government to court, the Northern federal legislators should take expeditious legislative action.
“While we respect the independence of the judiciary, we must emphasize that resorting to legal proceedings could be interpreted as a sign of procrastination.
“Our legislators hold a constitutional mandate to ensure that the executive aligns its policies and programmes with the constitutional principles that have been violated by the actions of the CBN and FAAN.
“While acknowledging the proactive stance taken by these legislators, the Northern Youth Organizations would like to go a step further by calling on our representatives in the National Assembly to exercise their full legislative oversight functions,” the group stated.
It urged the Northern federal lawmakers to give the executive arm of government a definite deadline for it to rescind the decisions of relocating some CBN departments and FAAN headquarters as well as to take proactive corrective measures.
“Given the magnitude of the decisions by the CBN and FAAN that clearly demonstrate unsuitability of their chief executives to preside over
federal institutions, we urge our representatives to demand the immediate removal of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Minister of Aviation from their positions,” the group stated.
The immediate removal of both the CBN governor and Minister of Aviation, the group stated, “is not a punitive measure but an urgent step to restore public trust, ensure accountability, and uphold the
constitutional integrity of key institutions that significantly influence our nation’s economic and administrative landscape”.
According to the group, “Executive decisions that impact the economic and administrative landscape of our nation must be made with competence, transparency, and adherence to constitutional principles.”
It submitted that by taking these measures, the Northern federal lawmakers would not only be meeting up with the legitimate interests of their constituents but also demonstrated their
ardent commitment to constitutional governance, national unity and inclusive development.
“We anticipate that our representatives in the
National Assembly will navigate the critical matters with wisdom,
guided by the spirit of constitutional governance and a profound understanding of the constitutional principles that define our great nation,” it stated.
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