Reps pass independent candidacy bill, Not too young bill, 20 others

Members of House of Representatives on Thursday overwhelmingly voted in favour of the passage of 22 amendment bills proposed in the 1999 Constitution.

However, seven of the proposed recommendations of the Special Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution review chaired by Yussuff Lasun, Deputy Speaker were rejected by majority of the lawmakers during the voting process which lasted for over five hours.

Meanwhile, the House has resolved to defer the consideration of the $29.6 billion 2016-2018 External Borrowing Plan and Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper as well as the N136 billion virement until the lawmakers resume from the six week recess.

Abdulrazak Namdas, chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs gave the hint during the post-weekly press briefing held at the National Assembly complex, Abuja.

The plenary session which was interrupted intermittently by protest from some lawmakers ahead of the debate on ‘Not too young bill’; ‘appointment of FCT Minister’; ‘Change of names of some LG councils: Ebonyi, Oyo, Ogun, Pleateau and Rivers’; State creation and boundary adjustment’; ‘devolution of powers’; and ‘citizenship and indigeneship’; which failed to enjoyed the support of majority of the statutory two-third support of the 360 membership.

The two bills that failed to scale through include: Deletion of National Security Agencies; Deletion of State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from the Constitution and “Separation of Office of the Attorney General of the Federation/State from the office of Minister/Commissioner of Justice.”

Dogara stated that the “Not too young which enjoyed overwhelming support of members, was in the interest of the youth which we must empower because if we empower them we are empowering the future generation.”

The amendments which scaled through are: inclusion of former Senate President and Speakers as members of the Council of States; reduction of authorization of expenditure before budget passage from six to three months; Financial autonomy for State Legislature and Financial autunomy to Local Government Areas as well as the bill on democratic existence funding and tenure of LGAs.

The lawmakers also supported the bills on “Immunity for legislators for words spoken in chamber or in committee Meetings in the course of duty,” “Political Parties and electoral matters : Time to conduct Bye-Elections and power to deregister parties; Presidential assent to Constitution amendment bill; Timeframe for submission of names of ministerial nominees; Submission of Ministerial nominees with their portfolios; Submission of Commissioners nominees with their portfolios; Independent Candidacy; Nigeria Police Force to become Nigerian Police; Restriction of the Tenure of Presidents and Governors; Separation of office of Accountant General of the Federal Government from Accountant General of the Federation; Financial independence for Office of Auditor of Federation/State; retained submissions of judiciary as well as 35 percent affirmative action for women as ministers.

Likewise, they adopted recommendations for determination of pre-election matters; Consequential amendment on Civil Defence; Procedure for Overriding Presidential Veto in Constitutional alteration; Investment and Securities Tribunal; Reduction of Age for Election; Authorization of expenditure time frame for laying Appropriation bill, Passage etc; as well as Inclusion of Section 141 of Electoral Act into the Constitution.

Speaking at the post-legislative weekly press briefing, Abdulrasak Namdas, chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs explained that the clauses adopted by both Chambers will be transmitted to the State Houses of Assembly for consideration.

According to him, any of the adopted clauses by both Senate and House, must secure two-third support from the 36 State Houses of Assembly before it can be passed into law.

 

KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja