The Senate on Tuesday rejected the six-year single term proposed for the President and governors by the Senate committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution.

The lawmakers said the six-year single term proposal would stifle the power of the people to make elected officials accountable through periodic elections.

In his remark, Isa Galaudu from Kebbi State said that the proposal was retrogressive and would not be useful to assess the performance of elected officials while in office.

“It is retrogressive because it won’t give motivation and punishment for good or poor performance,” he said.

Ahmed Lawan from Yobe said any attempt to alter the current tenure arrangement would be disastrous to the nation.

“Six-year single term is an investment in disaster, the four-year two terms should be maintained as power to re-elect resides with the people,” Lawan said.

The senate also supported financial autonomy for local government councils through the abolition of the states/local government joint accounts.

Clever Ikisikpo. A senator from Bayelsa State in his contribution said autonomy for local government councils would fasten development at the grassroots,”.

The Senate, however, remains divided on the issue of creation of state police. Some senators who support it said it would strengthen community policing to further guaranty the safety of lives and property.

Victor Lar representing Plateau said there was the need to reconsider the creation of state police due to the high crime rate in the country.

Others, however, warned that past experience indicate that state police could be abused by state chief executives.

However, Abdulminu Hasan from Jigawa State argued that Nigeria was not yet mature for the creation of state police.

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Debates on the constitution amendment would continue on Wednesday while voting on the recommendations has been reserved for Thursday.