By DAYO BENSON

AS controversy rages over planned removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, several interest groups have been speaking for and against the move. But the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is yet to take a formal position on the issue. NBA President, Mr. Joseph Daudu SAN, said the body would consider arguments from both sides before taking a stand on the issue.

Speaking at a media chat in Lagos, he said “Subsidy is a very technical issues which demands deep study. It will be discussed at next NBA NEC meeting in Eket, Akwa Ibom State and the bar will come out with a position”.

On the controversial minimum wage issue he stated that “there is a great deal of uncertainty over the type of federalism we practice what we are running is a glorified Federalism.

This is the right time to put in the proper structures. There is a need to critically review the issue of minimum wage and the Federal Government imposition on the states which are not equally endowed with the same resources. The legislature should amend the necessary laws so that we have true fiscal federalism”.

Speaking further, he explained that the kind of Federalism “we have is peculiar to Nigeria and the politicians we have are bread and butter politicians. Nigeria is not in a position to run 36 states and 774 local governments. We must begin to think of a situations where we have six zones which should be the federating units.

The existing states will be provinces. It will not be the business of Abuja if South East, for instance, wants to create 30 provinces. It is only the leaders of the zones that will be known in Abuja. The present system is parasitic”.

Commenting on the 28-man reform panel constituted by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, he said “because the committee is still working, the bar will not want to be seen to be exposing the inner working of the committee. But one of our positions is that the NJC should be reformed.

The committee is dealing with larger issues of appointments and discipline of judges”.

Reacting to inclusion of former CJN, Justice Kastina Alu in the committee, he stated that the Bar was comfortable with him being there. Adding that there was a general feeling that those who were perceived to be part of the problem should be in the committee to suggest how to make things right.

Still on the judiciary, he disagreed with suggestions in some quarters that judges should be specially trained before they were appointed. According to him “there is no need for training. What is important is to appoint qualified people. Mode of appointment should be thrown open; it should be advertised and credentials of candidates should be looked at. Then applicants should be interviewed and recommendations made to the NJC.”

Speaking on move by House of Representatives to have a retired judge as the head of Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, he said that “it is uncalled for and it is unnecessary. The House of Representatives members are exposing the fact that we are wasting our money on them. Why go for a retired judge who would not have the strength to withstand the rigour of the job of EFCC chairman”.

On criminal justice system reform, he said the NBA would work with the appropriate authorities. “We will work with the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, on this. We believe there should be uniform penal and criminal code procedure.”