By Ezrel Tabiowo Abuja
President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, yesterday described the clauseby-clause consideration of the proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution to begin today, as another milestone achievement by the 8th National Assembly. In a statement by his Media Offi ce, Saraki said the Constitution amendment process as the fulfi llment of a major commitment the 8th Senate made to Nigerians at the commencement of their tenure in 2015. “You will recall that when we fi rst came into offi ce, I made a promise that we will amend the Constitution to refl ect new realities that have arisen. Now, we are doing just that.
With just under two years left to spare in this tenure, we are wrapping up this process, which will then be transmitted to the State Assemblies for concurrence. “We will continue to ensure that all the promises that we have made to the Nigerian people will be kept. It is also our hope that we can get this Amendment sent to the State Assemblies quickly, so that the new amendments can take eff ect by the New Year and well-clear of the political electioneering season.
“Th is is the fi rst time ever that we are concluding the constitution amendment process long before the election year so that people can objectively participate in the process without looking at the partisan benefi ts.” Th e consideration of the Constitution Review Report scheduled to take all the legislative hours this week is following its laying by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and Deputy Speaker Yusuff Lasun, in their respective chambers at last Th ursday’s plenary. Ekweremadu and Lasun are the chairman and deputy chairman, respectively, of the Joint Constitution Amendment Committee of the 8th National Assembly. Key areas of consideration in the Constitution Amendment Report, include 27 diff erent Bills, a Bill to decongest the Exclusive Legislative List by transferring certain items contained therein to the Concurrent List, among others.
