Senate set to review 1999 Constitution

The Nigerian Senate appears set to review some parts of the 1999 constitution as it has called for memoranda and proposals for amendments of the constitution from the citizens of the country. This was contained in a statement signed by the Chairman of the Senate Constitution Review Committee, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege. 

The committee requested that such proposals be submitted to the office of the committee at Room 0.28, Senate New wing, National Assembly complex in Abuja or via the email address of the committee, scrc9nass@gmail.com. The statement revealed further that submissions should be done not later than 14 days from the day of the publication of the statement. Entries are expected to close on 9th September, the 14th day after the date of publication on Wednesday 26th August.

The 1999 Constitution has continued to be reviewed by the National Assembly since the return of democracy in 1999. Parts of the Constitution amended by the Senate have to be passed to the House of Representatives for concordance. Concordant bills and amendments are then sent to the President for Assent. 

The full statement is reproduced below:

CALL FOR MEMORANDA

The Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has formally commenced the process of further alteration to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The Committee, therefore, requests the general public, Executive and Judicial bodies, Civil Society Organizations, Professional bodies and other interest groups to submit memoranda or proposals for further alteration(s) of the 1999 constitution (as amended) on the underlisted matters and on any other matter that will promote good governance and welfare of all persons in our country on the principles of freedom, Equality and Justice, namely:

1. Gender Equality for women and girls
2. The Federal Structure and Power Devolution.
3. Local Government/Local Government Autonomy.
4. Public Revenue, Fiscal Federation and Revenue Allocation.
5. Nigerian Police and Nigerian Security Architecture.
6. Comprehensive Judicial Reforms.
7. Electoral Reforms to strengthen INEC to deliver transparently credible free and fair elections.
8. Socio-economic and cultural rights as contained in Chapter 2 of the constitution.
9. Strengthening the Independence of oversight institutions and agencies created by the constitution or pursuant to an act of the National Assembly.
10. Residency and Indigene Provisions.
11. Immunity.
12. The National Assembly.
13. State Creation.

All proposals and memoranda are to be submitted to the Secretariat of the committee in Room 0.28, Senate New wing, National Assembly Complex, Abuja, not later than 14 days from the date of this publication or they may be sent electronically to the email address of the committee’s Secretariat (08033109357/ 08097522601) namely scrc9nass@gmail.com.

Signed:
Senator Ovie A. Omo-Agege
Deputy President of the Senate/Chairman