Tag Archives: 1999 CONSTITUTION

Why Jonathan Rejected Amendment Of 1999 Constitution

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President Goodluck Jonathan has defended his decision to reject amendments to the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly.

In a correspondence from the President read on Monday at plenary by the Senate President, David Mark, Jonathan said he would not assent to the amendments because they do not satisfy the strict requirements of section 9(3) of the 1999 Constitution. Charles Akpan, Assistant Director in the Presidency, said the President in his correspondence faulted some errors in the amendment.

These include the non compliance with the threshold specified in sectionn9(3) of the Constitution, alteration cannot be valid with mere voice vote unless supported by the votes of less than four fifths majority of members of the National Assembly and two thirds of all the thirty six House of Assembly, right to free basic education and primary maternal care services imposed on private institutions and 30 days allowed for assent of the President.

Other objections by the President includes limiting expenditure in default of appropriation from six months to three months,  creation of the Office of Accountant General of the Federation distinct from the Accountant General of the Federal Government, allowing National Judicial Commission to now appoint the Attorney General of the Federation rather than the President.

He accused the National Assembly of unjustified whittling down of the Executive powers of the Federation vested in the President by virtue of section 1(5) of the 1999 Constitution, said Akpan.

Credit: CAJ News

Reps Alter 71 Clauses In 1999 Constitution, Reject Referendum For Confab Report

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The House of Representatives on Wednesday amended 71 clauses of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, turning down a proposal that the recommendations of the recently concluded National Conference be subjected to a referendum, while approving that the call for the creation of more states should go through the process.

The House members also approved independent candidacy for electoral offices and life pension for former presiding officers of the two chambers of the National Assembly.

These decisions were taken when members of the House voted on the report of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on the Review of the Constitution yesterday.

Among alterations approved by the House was that which makes it mandatory for the president to address a joint meeting of the National Assembly once a year.

Out of the 261 lawmakers who participated in the constitution amendment voting process, 252 members voted aye for the amendments, 8 voted nay while one of them was undecided. A two-third vote, which is 240 of the 360-member House, is required to amend the constitution before it will be forwarded to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for concurrence.

The 71 clauses amended by the House centered on: legislative immunity, local government autonomy, state creation, indigeneship and citizenship, independent candidacy in elections, budgetary process, life pension for National Assembly heads, role for traditional rulers, among others.