FCT natives demand commission to tackle displacement, cultural protection
By Sadiq Abubakar, Abuja
The indigenous people of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, under the aegis of the Coalition of the FCT Nine Indigenous People (COFIP) has demanded for the establishment of the FCT Indigenous Development Peoples Development Commission (FCT -IPDC) in order to address the displacement of the natives, protection of their culture, economic empowerment, healthcare, education and among others.
The natives also demanded for an indigenous FCT minister or elected official through amendment of section 147 and section 299 of the 1999 constitution.
The natives made the demand during presentation by the leader of the FCT indigenous group, Engineer Shittu S. Chidawa, at the north central zone (B) public hearing of the house of representatives committee on review/amendments of the 1999 constitution held on Saturday, in Lafia, Nasarawa state.
He, however, proposed for the constitution review committee to expand provisions that will guarantee fair compensation, resettlement and community rehabilitation for the displaced indigenous communities in the FCT.
He also proposed the need for the FCT natives to have equal employment quota, university admissions quota, scholarships and political representation as equivalent to other state of origin, which he said will end systemic exclusion of the FCT indigenes in national life and ensure equal citizenship.
The indigenous people also called for decentralization of the area councils, through amendment of section 7 and section 303 of the 1999 constitution, saying granting the area councils full democratic and financial autonomy equivalent to local governments in states.
“And the natives also proposed the need to establish constitutional protection for local elections in the FCT. Reinstate old local government and increase the local government areas to replace area councils structures as stated in section 6. However, we believe doing this will promote grassroots democracy, accountability and participatory governance,” he said.
The FCT natives, among other recommendations they tendered before the committee’s at the public hearing, included, recognition of the FCT as a full flage status, creation of an elected governor for the FCT, establishment of state house of assembly for the FCT to enable local law making residents, enhanced political representation and others.
The group, also called on the review committee on the need to insert a new section recognizing the indigenous status of the original inhabitants and guaranteeing land ownership and protection.
They also urged the committee to review the land use Act’s application to the FCT in order to provide customary land tenure protections for the indigenous people of the territory.
According to the natives, the land use Act incorporated into the 1999 constitution gives control of the land to the federal government, which he said has undermined indigenous land rights and traditional authority systems.
“And this is clear violation of Articles 10, 26, and 32 of the united nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples to their traditional lands and to be consulted before relocation or development projects,”he said.
Chidawa, also called for the establishment of federal commission for FCT indigenous people with the mandate to protect indigenous culture and rights, oversee land restitution and compensation and monitoring compliance with international conventions such as ILO convention 169 and the UN declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples (UNDRIP).
He also noted that the FCT indigenous people are gradually losing their languages, farm lands, traditions and customary governance systems due urban expansion and lack of cultural preservation efforts.
“And unfortunately, no provision exist within the constitution to safeguard or promote the cultural heritage of the FCT’s indigenous people,”he said.
Leader of the Coalition of the FCT indigenous people Eng Shittu S.Chidawa, (m) former FCT PCC commissioner Hon Ezekiel Musa Dalhatu during public hearing on review of the constitution in Lafia, Nasarawa state on Saturday.
He also recommended the need to provide constitutional protection for the area councils to manage local affairs without excessive ministerial interference.
According to him, the recommendation are grounded in section 42 of the 1999 constitution, which he said prohibits discrimination, international treaties and declaration, including Africa charter on human and People’s rights and UN declaration on the rights of indigenous people.
The natives, however, prayed the need to ensure democratic self governance within the FCT through the establishment of full political structures, secure of the citizenship rights of the FCT natives on equal footing with other Nigerians as well as institutionalised protection and development of FCT indigenous communities and culture and reform administrative governance to reflect local participation, accountability and federal character.
