NBA faults Presidency, N’Assembly over constitution review

 

October 31, 2012 by Ihuoma Chiedozie, Abuja 

 

NBA President, Mr. Okey Wali
| credits: dailyindependentnig.com

Nigerian Bar Association has flayed the process adopted by the National Assembly and the Presidency in the ongoing constitution review.

NBA President, Mr. Okey Wali, while inaugurating the association’s committee on constitution  review and law reform in Abuja,  called for a referendum at the end of the national exercise.

Wali  said, “The NBA has some reservations about the ongoing process as it does not appear to be very orderly. There is no clear agenda or known methodology. Various government structures like the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, the Justice Belgore Presidential Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution  and the Governors’ Forum are all working towards the same amendment.

“In fact, the House of Representatives will be holding a public hearing session simultaneously in all the 360 federal constituencies on  November 10.”

He criticised the arrangement whereby each of the 360 public hearing sessions will be organised by an independent steering committee of stakeholders.

The Senior Advocate  of Nigeria  said, “Our first instinct was not to be a part of this because we did not think that a one-day gathering in 360 federal constituencies can be productive towards a  reasonable amendment to the 1999 Constitution. On second thought, we decided to attend but without prejudice to our reservations on the inadequacy of the process and on any attempt to any claim to legitimacy if Nigerians are not given opportunities in the future to effectively participate in the amendment of the 1999 Constitution.”

He called for a referendum at the end of the  review, saying it was the only way the new constitution could be said to belong to Nigerians.

The NBA boss said, “We will continue to call for a referendum, at the final stage of the process, thereby giving the average Nigerian, a say in the amendment.

“Only then could any legitimate claim be made to it being a constitution by We the people of Nigeria.

“A referendum is the ultimate consultation with the people of Nigeria, not a one-day gathering in federal constituencies.”

Another committee, the NBA Rule of Law Action Group, was also inaugurated during  the event.

The  group is to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Rule of Law by government institutions and the private sector.

The committee is also to ensure that court orders are obeyed, establish judgment registry in all the 36 states  using NBA structure, and carry out public enlightenment on the importance of the role of the Rule of Law.

SOURCE: The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper 31 October 2012.