Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has assured that the report of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution will be ready for consideration by both chambers by the end of February.
The Delta Central Senator who chairs the constitution review committee of the Senate also disclosed that a total of 55 amendments were being considered in the review of the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.
Omo-Agege made this disclosure while addressing a joint retreat of Ad-hoc Committee for both the Senate and the House of Representatives in Abuja.
Omo-Agege said that the amendment bills have been analyzed appropriately and is ready to be put before the two chambers of the National Assembly for consideration by the end of the month.
He commended his colleagues for putting effort in the task despite the fact that COVID-19 pandemic affected the timeline stipulated to conclude the exercise.
In his words, “Recall the disruption of the activities of the committees by the Covid-19 pandemic which affected our timelines and made it difficult to deliver on our mandate and promise to Nigerians.
“I’m therefore delighted to see that we have progressed to this point where we can now jointly decide on the report to be presented to our colleagues for voting in plenary at the end of this month.
“Let me clearly state that the task will not be simple one, our consultants have analyzed submissions from public hearings and memos, harmonized and recommended over 55 bills across the various thematic areas of the exercise.
“We have independently reviewed the consultants reports and recommendations, by way of making additional provisions, rejecting and even introducing entirely new Bill on account of various advocacy and agitations on some issues of overriding National concerns.
“We have two working days and I encourage everyone to give the work all the attention it deserves especially as we have limited time to present this report and transmit to state houses of assembly. I’m sure we will be able complete this series of work within the timeline.”
In his address, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Idris Wase who also chairs the review committee for the House of Representatives also reiterated the report will be ready before the end of this month.
He also urged the members of the committee to cooperate in ensuring that the bill is transmitted to state Houses of Assembly for concurrence by the end of February.
“We will allow the Bill to go to states before the end of this February. I am seeking for cooperation from everybody so that we can deliver”, he said.
