Former Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu, has called on President Bola Tinubu to implement the recommendations of the Uwais Electoral Reform Committee that has remained abandoned for 17 years by successive governments.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Okechukwu emphasized that implementing the report would be the most fitting tribute to the late Justice Mohammed Uwais, who died at the age of 88. Justice Uwais served as Chief Justice of Nigeria from 1995 to 2006 and was widely regarded as one of the most influential judicial officers in Nigeria's history.
Key Recommendations of the Uwais Report
According to Okechukwu, the Uwais Report was designed to enhance voter participation, reduce electoral malpractices, and ensure free, fair, and transparent elections. One of its most significant recommendations was the public nomination of chairmen and members of electoral commissions at both national and state levels.
"Seventeen years down the line, successive governments have failed to implement the vital sections of the Uwais Electoral Reform Committee recommendations, with attendant collateral damages—multidimensional poverty, gross unemployment, huge debt burden, crass inequality, and general insecurity," Okechukwu stated.
The best tribute to Justice Uwais is to posthumously adopt and implement the fine tenets of his report, as the only politically correct solution for the restoration of democracy and global recognition.
Appeal to President Tinubu
The founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) urged President Tinubu to "muster the political will and clear the Uwais debt burden by amending the constitution, albeit to make public appointments of chairmen and members of both national and state electoral commissions mandatory."
Okechukwu expressed confidence that President Tinubu has all the necessary support to implement these reforms, citing his cordial relationship with the National Assembly, synergy with about 30 state governors, and the overwhelming endorsement of Nigerians.
He further noted that such amendments would not only improve the electoral process but also consolidate local government financial autonomy, addressing multiple governance challenges simultaneously.
The implementation of the Uwais recommendations has been seen by many political analysts as crucial for deepening Nigeria's democratic processes and ensuring that elections truly reflect the will of the people.
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