Constitution Amendment, Electoral Reforms, Local Govt Autonomy, Top Agenda As Reps Resume Plenary Tuesday
Luke Bongon
As the 10th House of Representatives resumes Plenary sittings on Tuesday, September 24th, 2024 following the end of its annual recess which began in late July, the House will vigorously pursue important legislative duties priorities in line with parliamentary tradition and Constitutionals responsibilities.
According to the House Spokesperson, Akin Rotimi Jr on Monday, he stated that, the Speaker, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., will deliver an agenda setting speech that will outline the priorities which include Constitution amendment, electoral reforms, local government autonomy among others.
He stated that, the House’ performance report before the recess have shown that, 679 motions were moved, 89 bills were passed, and 306 petitions were received from distressed Nigerians during the first session.
He added,”Additionally, Members of the Green Chamber conducted oversight visits to 107 MDAs, averaging 0.9 visits per committee as of June 13, 2024″.
He further noted that, the annual recess in the legislative calendar serves as a vital opportunity for federal lawmakers to engage in extensive constituency outreach across the country.
Rep. Rotimi Jr added that, it also enhances the oversight of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as outlined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended). During this time, Standing and AdHoc Committees conducted important hearings to address critical concerns.
He added, “Although the House wasn’t holding plenary sessions, alternative avenues were utilized to address issues typically raised as Motions of Urgent National Importance. For example, following the devastating floods in Maiduguri, Borno State, the House sent a delegation led by Rep. Ado Doguwa (APC, Kano) to the state, making a donation to the government. In separate statements, both Rep. Doguwa and Rep. Muhktar Aliyu Betara (APC, Borno) assured that legislative measures would be taken upon resumption to further address the crisis.
“As the Green Chamber resumes, the House will inaugurate the board of the Public Complaints Commission (PCC). It is also expected to inaugurate the Joint Senate/House Ad Hoc Committee on the Petroleum Industry Investigation, which aims to address challenges in the oil and gas sector.
“Honourable Members will actively debate and pursue legislative action on pressing challenges faced by Nigerians, particularly those related to the recent flooding in Maiduguri, the spate of insecurity in the country, and the economy. These issues, among others of urgent national importance, will be prioritized as we respond to the needs of our constituencies”.
The lawmaker further informed that, the House is also expecting the submission of the 2025 Appropriation Bill by the executive as the 2024 fiscal year comes to a close.
He said, timely submission from the Executive is crucial, as it facilitates thorough scrutiny and public input through Town Hall meetings, a practice pioneered by the House during the 2024 Budget review.
He added that, the House is committed to maintain the January – December budget cycle and anticipates cooperation from the Executive saying that, members will also continue with other critical legislative duties in the area of Constitution review, electoral reforms, local government autonomy and others as major areas of focus.
According to him,the constitutional review process serves as the bedrock of our democracy, embodying the collective aspirations of Nigerians for a just society.
The spokesperson said, “The House reaffirms the December 2025 deadline to arrive at definitive outcomes for the Sixth Alteration to the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The House Committee on Constitution Review (HCCR), chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, will intensify efforts to address pressing issues and align our laws with the needs of the public.
“To date, we have received about 305 memoranda from the public and about 150 Constitution Alteration Bills from Honourable Members, reflecting significant public engagement and concern. These bills will be given accelerated consideration”.
Speaking on Electoral reforms he said the 10th House, it will prioritize amending the Electoral Act 2022 to address gaps, including vague and contradictory provisions, which he said in line with Article 6.7 on Law Reform in its Legislative Agenda.
He added, “In line with our agenda, we are also committed to establishing a mechanism for periodic reviews of electoral laws to ensure they remain relevant and aligned with global best practices.
“Notably, groundwork for this process has already begun with a Citizen Town Hall on electoral reforms held by the House Committee on Electoral Matters in November 2023. As we resume, the House will build on these ongoing efforts to strengthen our electoral framework.
“In light of the landmark Supreme Court ruling in July 2024 on Local Government Autonomy, we anticipate bills aimed at ensuring the consequential alignment of various extant laws with this new reality. This issue is pivotal to our Legislative Agenda, particularly Article 6.3 on Law Reform (Agenda 3)”
According to him, the 10th Assembly has proposed several reforms for Nigeria’s local government councils, including constitutional changes to grant them financial and operational independence.
He noted that, the shift is essential for clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of local governments and preventing overlaps and conflicts.
He further noted, “Further reforms will address electoral processes within local councils and clarify their roles in maintaining security at the grassroots level. These initiatives are crucial for empowering local governments and ensuring they effectively serve their communities”.
