Some delegates at the ongoing National Conference on Thursday called for judicial independence and an inclusive government.
They made the call in Abuja while contributing to President Goodluck Jonathan’s speech to the conference on March 17.
The delegates said that unless these issues were addressed, the struggle to reposition the country would not be complete.
One of the delegates, representing the Judiciary, Justice Veronica Ume, said that judicial independence was not debatable as it would ensure a robust democracy.
“Its essence is to enhance the principles of the rule of law and doctrine of judicial review, both of which form the pillars of constitutional democracy,” Ume said.
She implored the conference to come up with a policy on gender repositioning in order to ensure that more female magistrates emerge in some states of the federation.
She added: “Some states of the country have only one female magistrate in their judiciary.
“I therefore implore the conference to formulate a policy on gender repositioning.
“I pray we take a cue from the Republic of Uganda, which has formulated a gender policy in their judiciary.”
Another delegate representing Persons Living with Disabilities, Ekaete Umoh, said that there was also the need for an inclusive government where women, children and persons with disabilities would be given equal opportunity.
Umoh, who is the Vice President, Rehabilitation International, African Region, said the principle of inclusivity would open up the space for all citizens to fully participate in governance.
Umoh said: “We are all gathered here today because we feel excluded in one form or the other.
“If we apply the principle of inclusivity, it will open up the space for everyone to operate.
“To have an inclusive society, there is the need to carry women and children and those living with disabilities along.
“A nation that cannot take care of the vulnerable citizens is not a strong nation.
“In the President’s speech, he asked us to rise up and begin to strategically design activities to address these gaps.”
The delegate pointed out that the issue of disability was more serious, adding that it was a human right and development issue, which should be addressed using a right approach.
Another delegate representing the South East geopolitical zone, Onyema Ugochwuku, said that there was the need to put in place a system of government that would engender development.
Ugochwuku urged the conference to adopt measures that would ensure that the country returned to true federalism.
He said: “We have operated this system of government under different form, sometimes under unitary, military and sometimes under civilian rule.
“We have been panel beating this system over these 48 years in different conferences, constitutional and non constitutional conferences but it still has not worked for us.
“We need to find something new and I urge delegates not to allow the conference to be another panel beating conference.”
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