NASS transmits amended constitution to state Assemblies

THE National Assembly, on Tuesday, formally transmitted the amended sessions of the 1999 Constitution to speakers of the 36 state houses of Assembly.

Senate President, David Mark, who made the formal presentation at a brief ceremony held at the conference centre of the new Senate building, said the National Assembly had passed the ball to the court of the state lawmakers.

The state assemblies, according to him, should do their job expeditiously and with interest of Nigeria at heart.

Mark, who was joined by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha and the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, as well as senators and members of the House of Representatives, asked the state assemblies to do their job, in line with what is best for Nigerian democracy.

Mark stated that the National Assembly had no predetermined position on the amendments, adding that what was decided upon was the views of Nigerians.

“The essence of the alteration is to get the views of all Nigerians...We are now being criticised on our move to give autonomy to local governments, yet this was an idea canvassed by Nigerians. We are more concerned about the need to bring governance closer to the people,” he said.

In his welcome remarks, Ekweremadu, who is also the chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, stressed that all the amendments were reflections of the views of Nigerians.

“The bill we transmit to you today is an aggregation of the will of the Nigerian people. The legislature has long recognised that to secure the future of Nigeria in political, social and economic terms, it must invariably review our constitution to meet the aspirations and needs of our diverse people and to facilitate national development in an equitable manner.

“The amendments set out institutional and legal reforms, which, together with sufficient political will, may help to provide for constitutional and other legal guarantees for the practice of true federalism; provide for accountability and transparency in governance and create an independent judicial system that would ensure the proper administration of justice in Nigeria.”

Honourable Tambuwal reminded the speakers of the need to ensure the financial autonomy of the assemblies, adding that in the last amendment, the state assemblies rejected the offer.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Ihedioha, also said the House held people-oriented sessions at the 360 constituencies, adding that the view of Nigerians dictated the report submitted to it.

While receiving the document, chairman, Conference of Speakers of the 36 state assemblies, Honourable Samuel Ikom, speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, said the assemblies were ready to defend their autonomy this time.

“The event of today is one we consider very important for the progress of the country. We appreciate the National Assembly for involving the people by going to their constituencies to seek their input.

“We assure you that we will play our role to give to Nigeria, a constitution that will reflect the will of the people. On the rejection of financial autonomy proposed to us in the Sixth National Assembly, let us put the past in the past. I assure you that if the question is put to us now, the answer will be yes,” he said.

http://tribune.com.ng/news/news-headlines/item/19973-nass-transmits-amended-constitution-to-state-assemblies

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Report of national confab should be implemented now. Nigeria can not continue like this.