Jonathan inaugurates 21-member panel to review Nigerian constitution - Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan Thursday inaugurated a 21-member constitution review committee, and charged them to work out the 'settled' areas of national discourse. The committee will also draft bills that will be considered by the executive branch of the federal government before sending them to the National Assembly for consideration and enactment into law.

Jonathan identified the 'settled issues' to include the strong recommendations from past Constitutional and Political Reform Conferences on National Security, Human Rights and Social Security, People’s Charter and Social Obligations; Environment and Natural Resources, Models and Structure of Government, Public Service, Power Sharing, Local Government Reforms and the Economy. 

Pointing out that other 'areas of firm agreement' includes proposals for Judiciary and Legal Reforms, constitutional amendments pertaining to the Public Service, Anti-Corruption, State Joint Local Government Account, Traditional Institutions and Cultural Reforms; and Civil Society, Labour, Trade Unions and National Media Reforms, Jonathan said that, 'the ultimate purpose is to identify with and reinforce the on-going efforts of Committees of Senate and House of Representatives as they grapple with outstanding constitutional issues.'

Jonathan said that though the task of the committee was to study and deliberate on the resolutions, recommendations and implementation guidelines of the last National Political Reform Conference and relevant aspects of the 1994/95 Constitutional Conference, 'you must feel free to suggest fresh solutions to old problems, especially those that may have defied consensus in times past.'

According to him, the constitution of the committee 'is a clear demonstration of the unshakeable commitment of this administration to strengthening the bonds of our national unity; and our resolve to provide new answers to old problems. Our administration is committed to providing a stable socio-political environment for the necessary economic transformation of our dear country.

'To do this, we will work with all social and political formations and existing institutions, particularly the National Assembly. Together, we will systematically address all outstanding constitutional, political and social issues for the benefit of the country and her citizens.'

The two chambers of the Nigerian national legislature already have standing committees on constitution amendment.

The President noted that his administration recognized that what Nigerians wanted were 'inclusiveness, justice, equity and national cohesion, so that we can unleash the bustling energy and spirit of enterprise that abounds in our people. Ours is a nation of great promise. Our responsibilities as a generation and our duty as a government are to realize that promise of good life for our people.

'That is why the urgent task of this generation is to consolidate our unity, strengthen our democracy and to expand the frontiers of our wealth-creation strategies. We need to embark on crucial social engineering through a process that respects existing national political and social institutions. We need a process that will inspire the engagement of the Nigerian people and one that makes the best use of previous patriotic contributions. All these are readily available to members of this panel and to the generality of our people.'

Nigeria, he said, 'is on the threshold of great possibilities. Despite the present challenges, our sense of togetherness is strong and our democracy is deepening. At the national level, our electoral practice is now universally adjudged as credible. Individual and group freedoms are secure. Governance institutions – the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary – are all bustling with new ideas.

'Everywhere, there are concerted efforts to improve service delivery. Our economic planning is sound, even as the implementation framework unfolds. I make bold to say that the outlook for the future of our country is good. We are at peace with the world and we remain well-respected internationally.

'Yet, since every nation is a work in progress, each one has its own share of unfinished businesses. Nigeria is no different. Now is the time for us to make even greater efforts to find new answers to old-age problems that have long confronted us. Now, more than ever before, is the right time to work together to defuse new threats and address current challenges, so that this nation will advance with greater unity towards our goal of positive socio-economic transformation,' the President declared.

Jonathan emphasised 'I am always mindful of the fact that our unity is forged from the sacrifices of the generations before us. That unity is sustained by the strong commitment of countless leaders and peace-loving citizens across this nation.  It is this same commitment to secure peaceful ends through peaceful means that unites all our national debates, dialogues and conferences since 1922.'

He noted: 'as we strive for a better nation in a more perfect union, the sensible path to our future is to consolidate the gains that we have already made. That is why we must occasionally review and continuously strengthen the instruments, institutions and processes that determine the quality and content of our national life. I have consulted very widely on the need to address recurrent and emergent socio-political issues and I want us to do so in a manner that will not distract the nation from the immediate challenges of improving the quality of life of all citizens.

'I am determined that our nation devotes more resources, time and energy to the pressing issues of development, so that we progressively reduce the drama of politics, the cycles of group agitations and needless contentions. It is true that our nation had, in the past, committed considerable treasure and blood; time and sweat of good men and women, to develop broad consensus on a wide range of issues. These efforts deserve respect and sustenance, because wisdom is timeless and governance is a continuous process.'