|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly vote for review of the 1999 Constitution
By Akanji Alowolodo, Bauchi
Bauchi State House of Assembly on Thursday during plenary received report of the House Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Fifth Alteration) Bill, 2022 which was laid by the Chairman of the Committee Hon. Danlami Ahmed Kawule who is the Deputy Speaker and member representing /Zungur/Galambi Constituency.
The Committee explained that in order to carry all stakeholders and the general public along, it had to conduct a public hearing in each of the three Senatorial Districts of the State and gathered their opinions and concerns.
During the public hearings, the Committee collated views, ideas and opinions of the stakeholders and the general public across the State on key issues including devolution of powers, administration of government, resource control, judicial reforms and national security.
According to the Committee, the people of Bauchi State strongly believe that the content and character of the 1999 Constitution has been deterring the growth and development of Nigeria as a nation due to lack of public representation as such, they are clamouring for a fresh, people-driven constitution to drive democracy and good governance for the betterment of the country.
In his response, the Speaker commended the Committee for doing a wonderful job and said that their work is exemplary because they were able to carryout public hearing in all the three Senatorial Districts of the State.
The Speaker thereafter explained that the Members will now vote in favour or against each item on the Alteration Bill’s explaining further that for any Bill to get approved, it must get two third votes of all the Members of the House.
The voting was conducted as follows:
Abrogation of the State Joint Local Governments Accounts and provide for a special account into which all allocations due for local government councils from the federation account and from the government of the state shall be directly paid and other related matters, the results were:Yes 26 and
No 0
Alter the provisions of the 1999 Constitution to establish Local Government Councils as third tier of government and guarantee their democratic existence, tenure and for related matters, the result was Yes 26 and No 0.
There was 26 Yes and 0 No for Change of the name of Afrikpo North and Afrikpo South Local Government Areas and related matters while the Change of the name of Kunchi Local Government Area got Yes 26 and No 0.
Also, the Change of name of Egbado North and Egbado South Local Government Areas received Yes 26 and No 0 just as the Correction of the name of Atisbo Local Government Area got Yes 26 and No 0.
To Correct the name of Obit/Akpor Local Government Area, there was Yes 25 and No 1 while the vote to Provide for Financial Independence of State Houses of Assembly and State Judiciary and other related matters received Yes 26
No 0
The Assembly also voted 26 Yes and O No to Compel person to obey or comply with legislative sermon and other related matters.
To Regulate the first session and inauguration of members elect of the National and State Houses of Assembly and other related matters, for Senate and House of Representatives the quorum shall be at least 2/3 of all members-elect while that of the Houses of Assembly 2/3 of all members of the House received Yes 26 and No 0.
To Ensure uniformity in the retirement age and pension rights of judicial officers of superior courts of record, and other related matters the members voted Yes 25 and No 1.
To Delete the reference to the provisions of the criminal code, penal code, criminal procedure code or evidence act in the Constitution and other related matters the result of the voting was Yes 24 and No 2.
Exclude the period of intervening events in the computation of time for determining pre-election petitions, election petitions and appeals therefrom, and other related matters received Yes 26 and No 0.
Expand the interpretation of judicial office to include courts or tribunals created by an act of the National Assembly or State Assembly, and for related matters got Yes 25 and No 1.
To Provide for the post call qualification of the Secretary of National Judicial Council, and other related matters received Yes 25 and No 1 while Permit public servant to engage in healthcare, education, production and services beyond farming, and for related matters received Yes 26 and No 0.
Impose the requirement s of fair hearing in the process of recommendation of removal of judicial officers by the State Judicial Service Commission, and other related matters got Yes 26 and No 0.
Move the item “Airports” from Exclusive Legislative List to Concurrent Legislative List, and for related matters received Yes 0 and No 26 while Move the item “Fingerprints, identification and criminal records” from the Exclusive Legislative List to Concurrent Legislative List, and for related matters received Yes 0 and No 26.
Also, the Delete the item “prisons” in the Exclusive Legislative List and and redesign it as “correctional services” in Concurrent Legislative List and for related matters received Yes 25 and
No 1 just as Transfer the item “Railway” from Exclusive Legislative List to Concurrent Legislative List, and for related matters got Yes 0 and No 26.
Furthermore, Delete after the word “areas” the words “not covered by a national grid system” in the Concurrent Legislative List, and for other related matters received Yes 25 and No 1.
Also during the voting, Empower the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to enforce compliance with remittance of accruals into disbursement of revenue from the Federation account and streamline the procedure for reviewing the revenue allocation formula, and other related matters received Yes 25 and No 1.
Enhance the independence of certain regulatory and oversight institutions created by the Constitution got Yes 25 and No 1 while Remove transitional lawmaking powers from the Executive Arm of Government, and other related matters received Yes 0 and No 26.
Specify the time within which the Executive shall present to the National Assembly any treaty between the Federation and other country for enactment, and other related matters received Yes 25 and No 1.
Provide a timeframe within which the President or a Governor shall lay the appropriation bill before the national assembly or house of assembly, and other related matters got Yes 25 and No 1.
Require the President or a Governor to submit the names of persons nominated as Ministers or Commissioners within sixty days of taking the oath of office for confirmation by the Senate or State House of Assembly, and other related matters received Yes 26 and No 0.
Require the President or a Governor to submit the names of persons nominated as Ministers or Commissioners within sixty days of taking the oath of office for confirmation by the Senate or State House of Assembly, and other related matters received Yes 26 and No 0.
Include president of the Senate and Speaker House of Representatives in the Membership of National Security Council, and other related matters received Yes 25 and No 1 just as Establish State security council to advise the Governor on matters relating to public security, and other related matters got Yes 26 and No 0.
Grant the Two Chambers of the National Assembly and States Assembly powers to summon the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Governors of States respectively, to answer questions on issues of national security or any matter whatsoever, over which the National Assembly and States Houses of Assembly have power to make laws, and other related matters got Yes 25 and No 1.
The voting to Reduce the period within which the President or a Governor may authorize the withdrawal of monies from the Consolidated Revenue Fund in the absence of and Appropriation Act from six months to three months, and other related matters received Yes 25 and No 1.
The members 25 Yes and 2No to Replace the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation with the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federal Government, and other related matters.
Establish the office of the Accountant General of the Federal Government distinct from the Accountant General of the Federation, and other related matters got Yes 26 and No 0 just as Specify time frame for the conduct of population census, and for related matters got Yes 26 and No 0.
Establish the office of Attorney General of the Federation separate from the office of the Minister of Justice, or Commissioner for Justice in order to make the office of the Attorney General independent and insulated from partisanship, and other related matters had Yes 26 and No 0.
Provide for a State of the nation and state of the State address by the president and Governor respectively, and other related matters ended with Yes 26 and No 0.
Include former Presidents of the Senate and former Speakers of the House of Representatives as members of the Council of State. This is to ensure that the three arms of government are fairly represented in the Council, and other related matters got Yes 8 and No 18.
Enhance existing provisions on the formation of political parties to ensure national orientation, viability and sustainability, and other related matters received Yes 23 and No 3.
Provide for Independence candidacy in presidential, governorship, national assembly, states houses of assembly and local government councils elections, and for related matters had Yes 24 and No 2.
Correct the error in the definition of the boundary of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and for related matters received Yes 25 and No 1 just as Make free, compulsory and basic education a fundamental right of all citizens under Chaps IV of the Constitution, and for related matters received Yes 25 and No 1.
Require the Government to direct its policy towards ensuring right to food and food security in Nigeria, and for related matters received Yes 25 and
No 1 while Reflect the establishment and core functions of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, and for related matters got Yes 24 and No 2.
After the voting, the Speaker directed the Clerk to communicate the resolution to the National Assembly.
