ABUJA (The Presidency Report) - The Nigerian Senate has noted that with the passage of the amended fourth alteration of the 1999 Constitution by the Nigerian Senate, it has become pertinent to note some of the salient features of the modified document.

It also said that the alteration which is contained in a bill for an Act to further alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and for other matters connected therewith 2014 was adopted by the Senate last Wednesday February 18, 2015 at plenary.

The report from the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters on Monday February 23, 2015 indicated that the 71 amended sections of the 1999 Constitution were unanimously approved by the Senators when it was put to vote by the Senate President, David Mark. "Contained in the amendment is outlawing Presidential Assent for any alteration in the Constitution to be effective. Senate Committee Chairman on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Senator Ike Ekweremadu was emphatic that the present alteration is the last to be assented to by the President," the report said.

"In the newly approved section, the President will henceforth withhold his assent to bills passed by the National Assembly to no end because the bills would automatically become law after 30 days of being transmitted for assent. Same goes for State Governors."

The publicity stated that the National Assembly also made it mandatory for the President to present a 'State of the Nation Address' to its joint sittings annually. It further inferred that contained in the newly approved sections is a provision that every citizen of Nigeria will henceforth be entitled to free basic education and free primary and maternal health care services.

In another development, the office disclosed that the Senate in response to the request of the State Houses of Assembly rejected Local Government autonomy; stating that the amended Constitution granted autonomy to State Houses of Assembly and State Judiciary. According to the release, the amended Constitution contains a provision that allows independent candidates to stand for an election as against the current practice where only political parties can sponsor candidates for election.

"It also contains a provision that anybody who has resided in a State continuously for a period not less than ten years automatically becomes an indigene of the State. The National Assembly rejected the scrapping of States Independent Electoral Commission while it created the Office of Accountant General of the Federal Government as distinct from the Accountant General of the Federation," it explained.

"According to the amended sections, any person who had held office as President or Deputy President of the Senate, Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be entitled to pension for life."

From http://www.nigeria.gov.ng/component/content/article?id=1539

i like this part

WebSurfer:
"It also contains a provision that anybody who has resided in a State continuously for a period not less than ten years automatically becomes an indigene of the State. The National Assembly rejected the scrapping of States Independent Electoral Commission while it created the Office of Accountant General of the Federal Government as distinct from the Accountant General of the Federation,"

r

Typing

"According to the amended sections, any person who had held office as President or Deputy President of the Senate, Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be entitled to pension for life."

Hope this will not put a toll on our economy? They should have just made it only the President and the Vice President.

WebSurfer:
i like this part

Hmph

In another development, the office disclosed that the Senate in response to the request of the State Houses of Assembly[b] rejected Local Government autonomy; stating that the amended Constitution granted autonomy to Sta[/b]te Houses of Assembly and State Judiciary. According to the release, the amended Constitution contains a provision that allows independent candidates to stand for an election as against the current practice where only political parties can sponsor candidates for election.

We have irresponsible Senators and State Legislators. Why will they kill that of LG Autonomy? These our legislators can be ridiculous.

However, I commend them for making provisions for independent candidate. This is a welcome development.

On outlawing Presidential Assent on amendments to the constitution, I think this is in order. The president should not have an overriding power over what the Senate, which is a representation of Nigerians, has deemed fit to be added or removed from the constitution. The unfortunate thing is that our senators on many occasions have proved not to have Nigeria at heart when they act.

On State of the Nation address by the president, this has been long overdue. Same thing goes for basic primary education and health care provision. However they failed to tell us how to ensure compulsory implementation by the concerned govts.

It is highly disappointing that local governments were not granted autonomy yet again. Real developments surely must be driven from the grassroots and by making that tier of government completely dependent on the state government/governors is counter productive. What's the point of having an election to determine who leads an lg then? The gov can as well appoint the chairman and fund the lg as he deems fit. This is very wrong in deepening our democracy.

Independent candidates for election is good.

Life pension is not entirely bad but a lot of conditions must be attached to such privileges/rights.

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