The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, has expressed his admiration for President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to sign several legislations that have modified certain sections of the 1999 Constitution.
Hon. Wase, who doubles as the Chairman of the Special Ad-hoc Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution, praised the President’s actions, stating that the Constitution (Fifth Alteration) bill, 2023, which is divided into 16 separate bills, is a significant step towards improving Nigeria’s governance.
Notably, four of the bills focused on devolving power, promoting true Federalism, and strengthening State Houses of Assembly and Judiciary. In addition, the bills sought to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to delete the reference to the provisions of the Criminal Code, Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Act, Criminal Procedure Code, or Evidence Act, and for related matters.
Another bill aimed to exclude the period of intervening events in the computation of time for determining pre-election petitions, election petitions, and appeals, and for related matters.
Moreover, the bill aimed to provide for the post-call qualification of the Secretary of the National Judicial Council and to delete the item “prisons” in the Exclusive Legislative List and redesignate it as “Correctional Services” in the Concurrent Legislative List, and for related matters. The bill also aimed to move the item “railways” from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List and to allow states to generate, transmit and distribute electricity in areas covered by the national grid, and for related matters. Lastly, the bill aimed to require the President and Governors to submit the names of persons nominated as Ministers or Commissioners within sixty days of taking the oath of office for confirmation by the Senate or State House of Assembly, and for related matters.
Hon. Wase also praised the 9th National Assembly members for working tirelessly to ensure the passage of these crucial bills, and he commended President Buhari for signing them into law. The 16 bills assented to by the President include seven bills that seek to change the names of Afikpo North and Afikpo South Local Government Areas, change the name of Kunchi Local Government Area, change the names of Egbado North and Egbado South Local Government Areas, correct the name of Atigbo Local Government Area, correct the name of Obia/Akpor Local Government Area, and provide for the financial independence of State Houses of Assembly and State Judiciary, and for related matters.
Finally, the Constitution (Fifth Alteration) bill, 2023, also seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to regulate the first session and inauguration of members-elect of the National and State Houses of Assembly, and for related matters. The signing of these bills is a significant achievement for Nigeria and marks a significant milestone towards improving the country’s democratic institutions and governance structures.
SKJ