The Lagos State House of Assembly has directed the Clerk, Olalekan Onafeko, to transmit the resolution of the assembly on the Fifth Alteration Bill 2022 (1999 Constitution Amendment) to the National Assembly. The Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Information, Setonji David, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Friday.
The Clerk of the National Assembly, Amos Ojo, on March 31, transmitted the 44 passed Constitution alteration bills to the 36 state assemblies for their concurrence. David said the house has sent the input of the Lagos Assembly on the 44 alteration bills, which included the reasons for the positions of the House had taken in respect of the bills. “The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday during plenary put into consideration its input on the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) (Fifth Alteration) Bill, 2022.
“Pursuant to Section 9(2) of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended considers fifth alteration bills to enable us forward our approval by resolution on the 1999 Constitution to the Clerk of the House. At the end of the consideration, the Lagos State House of Assembly rejected sections (1), (2), (26), (27), (52), (66) of the 44 bills received by the assembly,” he said.
The National Assembly on March 1, voted on the 68 amendments recommended by the Joint Senate and House of Representatives’ Special Ad Hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution. To amend a clause in the Constitution, two-third or four-fifth majority of each of the Senate and the House has to approve the amendment after which it will be transmitted to the state Houses of Assembly, where two-third or 24 of the 36 of them have to concur.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in Ogun State have thrown their weight behind the forty-four (44) alteration bills approved by the National Assembly for the consideration of the State Houses of Assembly in the country, as they all canvassed for the speedy passage and subsequent assent by President Muhammadu Buhari. The Stakeholders spoke during a public hearing on the Fifth Alteration of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Altered), held at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
They agreed in unison that subsequent passage, assent and implementation of the bills would enhance national development, especially through a more independent legislature, judiciary and local government system that would deepen democratic practice.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Speaker Olakunle Oluomo expressed optimism that when the alterations were eventually carried out successfully, more institutions of government would be further strengthened, especially the three arms of government. “It is imperative for this Honourable House to give necessary legislative credence to these Bills and also ensure prompt transmission of same to the National Assembly as required’, the Speaker submitted.
