THE Western Provincial Assembly (WPA) has passed a motion for Western Province’s adoption of the Federal Constitution, as contained in the Federal Draft Constitution 2017, on 10 October 2027.
Further to setting down a specific date for the Federal Constitution adoption, the motion called for the establishment of a Transitional Management Unit (TMU) to prepare a policy strategy that will facilitate consultations with the national government regarding shared interests and activities as stipulated in the Draft Federal Constitution 2017.
The motion was tabled by the Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) for Ward 3 (Simbo), Gideon Tuke last Friday and secured the support of the entire assembly of 26 MPAs.
When tabling the motion, MPA Tuke said, “this motion is not a personal motion, it is the motion of the people of Western Province whom we, the 26 MPAs in this Chamber, represent.”
He criticised past Western Provincial Governments and National Governments for neglecting the draft constitution, saying that the people have been waiting for nearly eight years now for ‘substantial’ action.
MPA Tuke said the Western District had wanted the granting of more devolution powers to the provinces at Independence in 1978 and on that note, urged the current Members of the Western Provincial Assembly to consider whether they are united on this agenda of the people or are merely representing divergent political interests.
“Can we honestly show our desire to champion the agenda of our people by putting aside all individual political interests?” he challenged.
MPA Tuke said the call by the people of Western Province for ‘self-reliance’ is an expression of their desire for the province to assume decision-making powers that have been centralised based on a centralised governing system that does not always reflect the desires of the people.
He highlighted the failure to implement the outcomes of Provincial Leaders’ Summit and questioned the commitment of elected national leaders to fulfilling the people’s agenda.
“We tend to be very complacent. Could it be that as elected leaders, we are ignorant of our responsibility?” MPA Tuke further challenged.
He warned that without timely action, Western Province risks falling behind in the constitutional reform process.
MPA Tuke called for collective support for the motion, saying, “we need to expedite important policy directions. We can only do that if we leave our differences behind and come together to support this common agenda of the people we represent.”
The motion was responded to with lively debate contributions from members of the assembly, who touched on the implications of adopting the Federal Constitution and its potential to reshape governance in the province.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star Gizo
