Politics
CONSTITUTION REVIEW: 3 months gone, amendment bills still stuck in N’Assembly
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Wednesday confirmed that the amendments to the 1999 Constitution in the last review process had yet to leave the National Assembly three months after, because the Senate and the House had not harmonised their positions on the bills.
Recall that the two legislative chambers considered 33 proposals in July, but the outcome of voting indicated that they disagreed on some items.
Based on constitutional guidelines, the differences would require a conference committee of both chambers to harmonise amendments before they will be transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly.
Dogara spoke at the National Assembly in Abuja when he was visited by a delegation of the Conference of Speakers of Nigerian State Legislatures led by their chairman, Ismaila Abdulmumin-Kamba..
Under the 1999 Constitution, a proposal to amend the constitution must secure two-thirds majority vote of both chambers of the National Assembly to pass, and must also secure the consent of two-thirds majority (24) of the 36 states’ Houses of Assembly before presidential assent, to be included in the constitution.
A statement by the Speaker’s Media Office Wednesday, confirmed the development.
“He also explained the delay in the transmission of the Constitution Amendment Bills recently passed by both chambers of the National Assembly to state MPs, saying it is as a result of ongoing consultations between the two houses to harmonise all areas of differences in order to produce a uniform document”, the statement said.
Also, at the meeting, Dogara had lamented the harsh state of poverty in the country, saying that the legislature at all levels must join in the search for actionable solutions.
“We know that if something has to be done at the level of government that will translate into a better life for our people, it must begin from the local government level, at the state level, and then before we even talk about the federal level,” he added.
The Speaker advised state lawmakers to be firm in dealing with the executive rather than succumbing to all their demands.
“In democracy, we worship no one, we should fear only God but we respect men.
“When you have a parliament that only responds to the demands of the executive, there is no way we can make progress. We have to carry out our responsibilities without having any fear at all”, he said.
The speakers had earlier assured Dogara that they would act on the constitution amendment bills as soon as they were transmitted to the states.
Their chairman added, “We, at the Conference of Speakers, are ready to do justice to these issues. We have already concluded that whatever you will transmit to us, we will carry our strata and groups along and agree that whatever the majority may agree on will be carried out”.
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JOHNSON PETER
October 19, 2017 at 5:26 am
The amendments may not even see the light of the day especially the not too young to rule
seyi jelili
October 20, 2017 at 2:58 am
It will see the light of the day but not all the 33 bills
yanju omotodun
October 19, 2017 at 5:44 am
I still see no reason why we are maintaining two legislative bodies in Nigeria whereas it’s the Senate that still legislate the major laws, it’s a sheer waste of resources and time. Let’s maintain unicameral legislature in Nigeria.
seyi jelili
October 20, 2017 at 3:00 am
Making law is very technical and leaving it to the hands of the few makes no sense at all, so let maintain the two legislative bodies but cut down their salaries
Animashaun Ayodeji
October 19, 2017 at 8:35 am
There’s delay because the lawmakers know there’s no money involved. If it has to do with their allowances, they will prioritize the amendment process and by now they would have reviewed more than half of the constitution
Balarabe musa
October 20, 2017 at 3:36 am
They are our problems in Nigeria
Abeni Adebisi
October 19, 2017 at 8:46 am
The lawmakers are not performing up to expectations in supporting the government to make Nigeria a better country. The constitution amendment is germane and should be attended to urgently. This is part of the things they can do to foster development in Nigeria
Anita Kingsley
October 19, 2017 at 8:49 am
A country operating on outdated constitution will never operate in the reality of the situation of the country, such country will operate vaguely and blindly, the National Assembly needs to come to the rescue of Nigeria
Anita Kingsley
October 19, 2017 at 8:50 am
I believe the lawmakers should disagree to agree. The 1999 constitution doesn’t befit Nigeria anymore, hence they have to deliberate on it and amend it to suit the current situation of Nigeria and it also has to be futuristic
seyi jelili
October 20, 2017 at 3:02 am
Our problems is not the constitution at all but the absence of good legislative bodies
Balarabe musa
October 20, 2017 at 3:36 am
I concur to your view