House starts move to amend Nigeria’s constitution

DESMOND UTOMWEN/Abuja

The Bill for the amendment of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was today presented for first reading in the House of Representatives.

The Bill tagged: Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2012 HB. 308) presented by Hon A.T. Sam-Tsokwa.

The Bill, when passed is expected to correct some of the deficiencies in the country’s constitution. The 1999 was designed and presented to the country by the military government, pre democratic era.

Observers and activists have been near unanimous in calling for a review. All efforts since the returun to democracy have however been futile.

The peak of the amendment was the failed effort in 2006 which was dented by the infamous third term quest by former president Olusegun Obasanjo.

The current amendment is also expected to address the thorny issues of tenure of the public officers in the executive arm, numerous judicial reforms as well as revenue and fiscal questions that are constitutionally pegged.