The House of Representatives on Wednesday rejected a fresh bid for the convocation of a national conference and a referendum where a new constitution for the country would be approved by Nigerians.

The Senate and the House are currently in the process of further amending the 1999 Constitution.

However, a member from Rivers State, Mr. Kingsley Chinda, and another lawmaker from Edo State, Mr. Peter Akpatason, introduced a bill on Wednesday seeking to provide for the convocation of a national conference.



Chinda is a Peoples Democratic Party’s legislator, while Akpatason is a member of the All Progressives Congress.

The long title of the bill read, “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Convocation of National Conference for the People of Nigeria for the Purpose of Discussing and Adopting a New Constitution to be submitted for Consideration and Approval at a Referendum and for other Purposes Connected therewith.”

But, the House, which was presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, did not allow the bill go far before it was rejected.

It said any procedure for amending the constitution that was either in conflict with the constitution or did not comply with the extant provisions for the amendment of the constitution was “illegal.”

The House position was highlighted by the Chairman, Committee on Rules/Business, Mr. Orker Jev. He raised a point of order to oppose the bill.

Jev said Section 1 of the constitution held the constitution to be the “supreme” law of the land, which was also binding on all Nigerians.

“Any law that is inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution automatically becomes null and void,” he stated.

Jev also argued that Section 9 of the constitution made clear provisions on how to amend it.

He added that the constitution did not include a referendum for the purpose of amending it.

“Any other thing other procedure is illegal.

“You cannot bring a bill here to amend the constitution,” Jev told the House.

Dogara quickly concurred with Jev before he rammed his gavel to rule out the bill.

Meanwhile, the House called for improved welfare for teachers in the country on Wednesday as they marked the 2016 World Teachers’ Day.

Many lawmakers suggested a separate salary structure for teachers and the provision of training facilities in schools

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http://punchng.com/reps-reject-national-conference-referendum/

How do we restructure the country without constitutional amendment?

National Conference?


Another Avenue for Nigeria elders to sleep in Transcorp Hilton and go home with a 15million Naira welfare package?

Lawbreakers that know nothing abt the law

Abeg naija should show teachers love

Any attempt, or group of conspiracies that will construed the slightest idea of getting a new constitution through a SOVEREIGN NATIONAL CONFERENCE must be killed on arrival by our corruption laden NASS.
These looters don't want the progress of this country. Of course, the present state of this alien , archaic and undemocratic 1999 constitution open great doors for robbing the Nigerian nation blind.

But let's warn them very clearly that the masses own this country and it is what we want that must come to pass.
NASS members, be warned.
THE COUNTRY DOES NOT BELONG TO A MICROSCOPIC FEW.

SamuelAnyawu:
National Conference?


Another Avenue for Nigeria elders to sleep in Transcorp Hilton and go home with a 15million Naira welfare package?

one of the reasons I didn't like ur hero

Dat was a total waste of tax payers money

SamuelAnyawu:
National Conference?


Another Avenue for Nigeria elders to sleep in Transcorp Hilton and go home with a 15million Naira welfare package?

National Conference can only be lawful and binding if it is recognised in the constitution. And the representatives of the people must be elected and not selected.

This was what sane people were telling Jonathan which he did not take into cognisance before organising his National Jamboree.

Lolz...no free money

It's up to the citizens to demand it in their states from their reps. Once enough pressure is on the reps, they won't have a choice than to raise and support the motion. People are not acting serious about the issue. Just talking. Know your reps in your state and hold them accountable and force them to submit and support the motion.

They would not support a good thing.

I was watching channels yesterday and a social commentator was given detailed explanation on how these criminals receives bogus allowances for doing nothing...some sit there from year to year without contributing anything meaningful to the house...any bill that won't favour their continuous robbing of Nigerians will be dead on arrival... For the untold hardship that all these criminals inflicted on Nigerians, they wont get away with it...they shall pay for in one way or the other and even there children and generations to come will live in bitterness and agonies... I don't agree less when they say this country is a zoo...Revolution will come someday and there won't any hiding place for y'all..

Old religion

KINGMAKER001:
I was watching channels yesterday and a social commentator was given detailed explanation on how these criminals receives bogus allowances for doing nothing...some sit there from year to year without contributing anything meaningful to the house...any bill that won't favour their continuous robbing of Nigerians will be dead on arrival... For the untold hardship that all these criminals inflicted on Nigerians, they wont get away with it...they shall pay for in one way or the other and even there children and generations to come will live in bitterness and agonies... I don't agree less when they say this country is a zoo...Revolution will come someday and there won't any hiding place for y'all..

Is it not you and I that voted them in. Or we allowed them to use us to rig themselves in.

JimiOgunlola:
By the time NDA ensures that zero money is available for their insatiable fat stomaches. A referendum and constitutional review will happen by default.

Civil Servants and Private Business owners will bear the brunt of a red economy. Politicians are immune from recession. Those rogues in the National Assembly will still see money to steal.

When you amend the Constitution by the Provisions of the Constitution, you're restructuring the Country.

Another National Conference is a way teach Buhari how to be corrupt and waste our money and resources that are not there.

Some people really want Nigeria as presently constituted. A national conference comes up with a resolution which is presented to the legislature for their passing it into law, after their own input.
Even the legislatures work with experts who proffers ideas and solution which they present to the house for debate.
Dogara is just showing us he is part of the reason while the Nigerian law cannot be organic, and he has lots of company in that bloated house of REPtiles.

Mtcheww..politrick

This is the problem.. we in the south are learners in politics.. . Fulanis are masters of politics... This is something u don't rush.. . U loby the minorities in the middle belt and use them against the hausa - fulani...

The people of the middle belt should be the one championing this... Politics is a patient game... And we in the south lack it... U claim to lose to gain more tomorrow

uhm

The national assembly should be scrapped. They are the gathering of criminals! national conference, referendum will drastically reduce their powers and salaries etc. This have shown they are the one holding Nigeria to ransom, DOGARA is a lawyer and he knows how to twist the law to favour them in that house..

What do you expect from irresponsible self center bunch of adult that does not want the progress of the youth !!!

Because it's going to be to their detriment.

Montaque:
Some people really want Nigeria as presently constituted. A national conference comes up with a resolution which is presented to the legislature for their passing it into law, after their own input.
Even the legislatures work with experts who proffers ideas and solution which they present to the house for debate.
Dogara is just showing us he is part of the reason while the Nigerian law cannot be organic, and he has lots of company in that bloated house of REPtiles.

The National Conference was in itself a transgression against the constitution.

Therefore, the recommendations are not binding and it's even a nullity in itself.

SuperS1Panther:


National Conference can only be lawful and binding if it is recognised in the constitution. And the representatives of the people must be elected and not selected.

This was what sane people were telling Jonathan which he did not take into cognisance before organising his National Jamboree.

Yet there is the ridiculous notion that the constitution is the grundnorm for itself! It's like a baby giving birth to itself. The Constitution need not recognize any necessary process leading up to a referendum including a National Conference.

The constitution can be disregarded by a referendum voted to by the people expressing the true will of the people. The preamble to the constitution says "we the people" etc.

,

The north have continued to oppose any request to rewrite the 1999 constitution which was written largely in favor of the northern oligarchy without due considerations to the rest of the country. I have always said that right now we don't have a democratic constitution as a democratic nation we are supposed to be.

I am just sick and tired of this country!
People keep blaming those who are agitating for a state of Biafra without thinking on some of the issues that led to such agitations on the first place. They forget that just a few steps taken by government to address some of these issues would cause the Biafra agitation and other similar agitations in Nigeria to die a natural death. Go to the east and see the pitiable state of federal roads there, yet nobody cares, but once you talk about Biafra it will interpreted to mean that you hate the rest of the country. I am just tired!

The north keep boasting of how they can use the advantage of having more states and LGA (which we all know how the several northern military regimes created) to the disadvantage of the south. They forget that if Nigeria must remain one indivisible nation, then we must do what's right to ensure that every part of the country feels happy being Nigerian. Otherwise, Nigeria will cease to exist as an indivisible nation and it will happen in no distant time. I wonder how those guys expect patriotism from people with present state of things in the country! And I also wonder how Nigeria will become one Great, indivisible nation without patriotism from all and sundry. I just wonder!