BY Fredrick Nwabufo
The senate on Wednesday approved amendments to the 1999 constitution, following the submission of the constitution alteration bill by the state houses of assembly.
As part of the amendment, presidential assent will no longer be required for amendments to the constitution, as long as the national assembly has approved them.
Moving a motion for the passage of the bill in the senate on Wednesday, Ike Ekweremadu, deputy senate president, stated that the exercise was in line with Section 9 of the Nigerian constitution.
Ekweremadu, who noted that alteration of the 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.
He added that Section 67 of the constitution alteration bill provided that the president would brief the national assembly once every year.
According to him, the bill also provides that the office of the minister of justice would be separated from that of attorney-general of the federation.
George Akume, senate minority leader who represents Benue north west, seconded the motion for the passage of the constitution alteration bill.
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