Metro

GEJ flexes muscles with NASS, find out why

Published

9 years ago

April 15, 2015

President Goodluck Jonathan has exercised his veto powers by rejecting a number of amendments to the 1999 Constitution, which were proposed by the National Assembly.

Jonathan in a seven-page letter to Senate President David Mark and House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, listed 12 errors in the amendments, which justified his action.

The president’s letter to the legislative arm, which was read on the floor of Senate on Wednesday by Senate President, Mark, was received with shock by some members, who openly expressed surprise at the reasons the President vetoed the bill.

Chairman, Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (4th Alteration Bill 2015), Senator Ike Ekweremadu, announced that his members would hold a two-day retreat from Wednesday to Thursday to review the development.

However, efforts by members to subject Jonathan’s letter to debate were frustrated by the Senate President, who said there was the need for them to have a copy of the letter each before they would be able to make meaningful contribution.

Jonathan, had in the letter, said he would not assent to the amendments because they did not satisfy the strict requirements of Section 9(3) of the 1999 Constitution, querying the decision of the National Assembly to whittle down some Executive powers of the President.

He also faulted some amendments which will give Executive powers and duties to the Legislature and the Judiciary.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now