A whooping N8.5billion has so far been spent by the Nigeria’s highest lawmaking body, the National Assembly on the amendment of the 1999 constitution since the exercise first started in 2007, our investigation reveals.
The sum of N1billion was first spent on the constitution amendment ad-hoc committees of the Senate and House of Representatives in 2007 under the chairmanship of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ibrahim Mantu and Deputy Speaker, Honourable Austin Okpara.
LEADERSHIP Weekend recalls that the exercise was bungled due to a ‘smuggled third term’ clause that was allegedly inserted into the document, which led to the rejection of the entire bill on the floors of both chambers of the National Assembly.
It was learnt that apart from the N1billion approved for the exercise, the government of the day spent another whooping N2billion allegedly used to compromise senators and members of the House of Representatives to support the third term agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The second attempt to review the 1999 constitution successfully cost the nation another N1billion under the chairmanship of Deputy Senate President , Senator Ike Ekweremadu and co-chaired by the then Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senator Usman Bayero Nafada during the Senate Presidency of Senator David Mark in the 6thAssembly.
LEADERSHIP Weekend investigation reveals that apart from the N1billion appropriated for the exercise in the 2009 budget, the ad-hoc committees received foreign donations and assistances amounting to another N1.5billion to assist the National Assembly carry out a successful constitution amendment.
Some sections of the 1999 constitution were amended including the financial autonomy of the National Assembly as an independent arm of the government, which gives the institution the powers to draw its funds straight from the Consolidated Revenue Account, otherwise known as first-line charge.
The success recorded by the 6th National Assembly by amending some sections of the 1999 constitution spurred yet another attempt by the 7th National Assembly where another whooping N1billion was approved for the exercise still chaired by Senators Ekweremadu and former Deputy Speaker, Honourable Emeka Ihedioha.
It was equally gathered that the aides from multinationals operating within the country as well as foreign nations and international organisations including a certain international development bank in the region also sent in various donations, cumulatively amounting to N2billion.
http://www.leadership.ng/news/492239/nass-spent-n8-5bn-constitution-amendment-8-years
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