NASS Will Produce Constitution That Reflects Aspirations Of Nigs- Akpabio

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has assured Nigerians that the 10th National Assembly will produce a constitution that reflects the collective aspirations of Nigerians, unite and accelerate the country’s development.

Akpabio stated this during a two-day retreat of the House of Representatives Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution, organized by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Center (PLAC) and the United Kingdom International Development in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.

The Senate President urged federal lawmakers to be thorough in the ongoing review of the constitution, emphasizing that every bill and proposal must receive the necessary consideration.

This assurance came as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman, Committee on Constitutional Review, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, revealed that a total of 305 proposals from Nigerians and 112 bills on various national issues are before the Committee for consideration in the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution.

According to him, the 36 Speakers of State Houses of Assembly and the government of Akwa Ibom State have declared their support for the establishment of a state police, resource control, decentralization of power, and other national issues.

Akpabio applauded the work of the House committee, stating that the time has come for Nigerians to take their destiny into their hands.

In his address, the Deputy Speaker, Kalu, highlighted the areas of top priority in the review process, including local government autonomy, judiciary, electoral matters, state police, gender, human rights issues, and others.

The Deputy Speaker, explained that the committee held series public engagements and set a timeline to achieve the first set of amendments by
December 2025.

Giving the details of the thematic areas, Kalu said that the consultants were expected to dig deep into the thematic areas.

According to him, local government matters are given to Professor Nuhu M. Jamo, the judiciary assigned to Barr. Mike M. Osuman (SAN); electoral matters to Hon. (Dr.) Samson Osagie; State Policing given to Dr. Usman Ibrahim to handle; gender issues given to Prof. Anthonia T. Simbine; human rights issues given to Chief Chris Uche (SAN) while other special matters are assigned to Professor Yusuf M. Yusuf to handle.

The Deputy Speaker further explained that the amendment of the Constitution is imperative to conform with the wishes of Nigerians and also meet present economic realities.

“We will also engage the citizens from across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones and will cap our consultations with a National Public hearing in Abuja before the end of 2024”.

In his remarks, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, represented by the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, expressed support for the establishment of state police and devolution of powers.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria and Oyo State House of Assembly Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin, also expressed support for state police, local government autonomy, resource control, and revenue allocation, among other pressing matters.

The retreat aims to receive reports from experts/consultants on appraisal of previous constitution amendment bills, stimulate discussions, and place the bills and memoranda received in the public domain.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji