The Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Idris Wase has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for assenting to some momentous legislations that altered some Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.
This is contained in a statement by the Deputy Speaker in Abuja.
According to the Deputy Speaker who doubles as the Chairman Special Ad-hoc Committee on review of 1999 constitution, the constitution’s Fifth Alteration Bill, 2023 is fragmented into sixteen Bills assented to by the President.
It states that the Fifth Alteration, No.1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to change the names of Afikpo North and Afikpo South, Kunchi, Egbado North, Egbado South Local Government Areas; correct the name of Atigbo, Obia/ Akpor Local government areas and for related matters.
The Fifth Alteration No.6, according to the statement seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for the financial independence of State Houses of Assembly and State Judiciary; and for related matters.
Also, the Bill 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 statement explains that on the Fifth Alteration No.9, the Bill seeks 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.
In the statement, the Fifth Alteration No.10 of the Bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 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.
The Bill according to the statement seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for the post call qualification of the Secretary of the National Judicial Council; and for related matters.
Further more, in the Fifth Alteration No.15, the Bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 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.
In the Fifth Alteration No.16, the Bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to move the item “railways” from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List; and for related matters.
It states that in the Fifth Alteration No.17, the Bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to allow States generate, transmit and distribute electricity in areas covered by the national grid; and for related matters.
The statement aslo clarifies that In the Fifth Alteration No.23, the Bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 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.
While in the Fifth Alteration No.32, the Bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to correct the error in the definition of the boundary of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; and for related matters.
In the Fifth Alteration No.34 the statement seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to require the Government to direct its policy towards ensuring right to food and food security in Nigeria; and for related matters.
Essentially, the Fifth Alterations Bills No. 6, 7, 16, and 17 deals with devolution of powers/promoting true Federalism and also strengthening of State Houses of Assembly and the Judiciary.
The statement also congratulates Members of the 9th National Assembly for working tirelessly to ensure the passage of these legacy legislations.
RR IFEANYI OSITA,EDITED BY GRACE NAMIJI