Members of the Nigerian Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly voted to
approve amendments to the 1999 constitution, following the submission of
the constitution alteration bill by the state Houses of Assembly.
Deputy
President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, who chaired the Senate
committee on constitution amendment, moved a motion for the passage of
the bill. He affirmed that the exercise concurred with Section 9 of the
Nigerian constitution.
Ekweremadu, who told his colleagues that
alteration of provisions of the constitution could only be approved by
two-thirds of the National Assembly, disclosed that the power to assent
to amendments in the constitution would now be reserved for the
legislature.
“This
might be the last time any President would be assenting to amendments
to the constitution, as Section 9 provides that when the National
Assembly approves the bill, it becomes law,” he said.
Ikeoha, as
the Deputy Senate President is called, further stated that Section 67 of
the constitution alteration bill provided that the president would
brief the National Assembly once every year.
He went on to state
that the bill also provides that the office of the Minister of justice
would be separated from that of the Attorney-General of the federation.
Motion
for the passage of the constitution alteration bill was seconded by the
Senate Minority Leader who represents Benue Northwest, Senator George
Akume.
By this amendment, once the National Assembly approves of a bill, the
President would no longer be required to assent to the bill for it to
become law as used to be the case.
0 Comments