By INNOCENT ANABA
LAGOS—Former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani, Tuesday, faulted the incessant tinkering with  the nation’s constitution, saying: “It may be reduced to a minutes book.”

But former President of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, argued that a piecemeal approach to addressing fundamental issues in the constitution was necessary.

They spoke at the third memorial lecture of a former Attorney-General of the Federation, the late Justice Augustine Nnamani, in Lagos.

Others who spoke at the event include Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha; ex-Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammed Uwais.

Nnamani wondered how many times the constitution needed to be amended, adding that the  National Assembly, which swore to abide by the constitution cannot give the country a brand new constitution.

Nnamani said: “If we form the habit of amending our constitution regularly, then it will be reduced to a minutes book,” adding that the National Assembly should concentrate on policies that would bring development to the country, “if we are to attain Vision 20:2020.”

He said: “Industrialised countries such as  Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia which we are aspiring to be like, do not get their development by proliferation of states. We cannot attain development by high recurrent expenditure and reduced capital expenditure, the way we are spending our national revenue.”

He called for practice of fiscal federation, which he noted, will end agitation for states creation as some of the states are at best qualify as  local councils.

Justice Uwais noted that the country was still not out of the woods as there were very important constitutional issues that needed to be addressed.

Ihedioha, who was represented by Mr. Cyril Maduabum, said Nigerians should be allowed to determine their own constitution.