Senate alters Constitution, removes Power to assent Bills from President
Members of the Nigerian Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly voted to approve amendments to the 1999 constitution, following the submission of the constitution alteration bill by the state Houses of Assembly.
Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, who chaired the Senate committee on constitution amendment, moved a motion for the passage of the bill. He affirmed that the exercise concurred with Section 9 of the Nigerian constitution.
Ekweremadu, who told his colleagues that alteration of provisions of the constitution could only be approved by two-thirds of the National Assembly, disclosed that the power to assent to amendments in the constitution would now be reserved for the legislature.
“This might be the last time any President would be assenting to amendments to the constitution, as Section 9 provides that when the National Assembly approves the bill, it becomes law,” he said.
Ikeoha, as the Deputy Senate President is called, further stated that Section 67 of the constitution alteration bill provided that the president would brief the National Assembly once every year.
He went on to state that the bill also provides that the office of the Minister of justice would be separated from that of the Attorney-General of the federation.
Motion for the passage of the constitution alteration bill was seconded by the Senate Minority Leader who represents Benue Northwest, Senator George Akume.
Jonathan and Buhari are both problematic candidates – Soyinka
By this amendment, once the National Assembly approves of a bill, the President would no longer be required to assent to the bill for it to become law as used to be the case.