September 7, 2012 by John Alechenu and Olalekan Adetayo
Deputy Speaker, House of
Representatives, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, has assured Nigerians that the new
Constitution that will emerge from the ongoing amendment process would
be ready latest by the second quarter of 2013.
Ihedioha said this in his paper,
‘Perspectives of Constitutional Amendment,’ which he presented at a
presidential retreat for civil society organisations and professional
associations at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.
He said the decision to end the process
at that time was to ensure that there was enough gap between the time
the new constitution comes on board and the next general elections.
He said, “So far, we have received over
100 memoranda. The immunity clause, police reform, local government
administration, devolution of power, removal of NYSC Act and Land Use
Act from the Constitution and zoning of public offices are some of the
issues.
“We will not shy away from introducing
new issues that can no longer be postponed like the security
architecture, local government autonomy, do we need zonal or regional
governments, derivation formula, indigeneship/residency, justice sector
reform, legislature: whether it is bicameral/unicameral and whether
lawmaking should be part-time.
“We are umpires at this stage, but the
process of ammendment should end latest by second quarter of 2013 so as
to give enough time space before activities leading to the general
elections kick off.”
Deputy President of the Senate, Ike
Ekweremadu, in his paper titled, ‘Strategies for Evolving People’s
Constitution,’ said evolving a truly people’s Constitution was a
collective responsibility.
Director-General of the Nigerian
Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN), in his
paper, ‘The 1999 Constitution and future of Nigeria,’ said Nigerians
were moving too fast in altering the Constitution.
“No amount of alteration will make us go
forward without political stability. Alteration will be the fourth in
13 years, it does not portray us a disciplined and serious people,” he
said.
Meanwhile, labour unions and civil
society organisations on Thursday said only a constitution that emerged
from national referendum would be acceptable to Nigerians.
Representatives of the groups spoke at
the first Presidential Retreat for Civil Society Organisations and
Professional Associations at the Presidential Villa, Abuja as part of
activities to mark the nation’s 52nd Independence.
The President, Nigeria Bar Association,
Mr. Okey Wali, said national referendum was important if the nation was
sincere in its desire to get a truly people’s constitution.
President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr.
Abdulwaheed Omar, said, “I support a referendum for Nigerians to have a
truly people’s constitution,”
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Olisa
Agbakoba, said members of the civil society organisations would give up
on the call for a Sovereign National Conference if government gives them
referendum.
A civil rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana,
described the 1999 Constitution as an illegitimate document which must
be taken to the people for it to be legitimate.
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