On December 8, 2016, Hon. SolomADAELU'S BILL ADOPTED BY THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

On December 8, 2016, Hon. Solomon Sloddy Adaelu, Member representing the Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbo Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives moved a motion which introduced a Bill to alter Sections 147 and 192 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Adaelu's Bill was a direct response to the inexplicable delay in the appointment of ministers by the President and in some cases, commissioners by state Governors.

It will be recalled that whereas President Buhari took office on May 29, 2015, he didn't appoint his ministers up until sometime in September.
In a state like Osun , Governor Rauf Aregbesola didn't appoint his commissioners till after more than one year!

Sadly, these Chief Executives didn't flout any law because the constitution didn't give any time limit for such appointments, leaving a huge gap in our laws which left such key appointments at the whims and caprices of the President and State Governors.
This is bad for our political and economic development.

Adaelu sought to fill this yawning lacunae in our constitution when he moved that motion. The motion was for a Bill to make it mandatory for either the President or State Governors to submit to their respective legislatures, the names of the members of his cabinet, not later than 30 days after his inauguration into office.
The Bill also sought to make it mandatory for such nominations to be accompanied by the specific portfolio which the nominee is expected to hold in government, if confirmed, in line with International best practices.
This will assist legislators to screen these nominees appropriately. If the legislators know that Mr. A is being screened for the position of Minister or Commissioner for Health, they would focus on areas that concern the work of the ministry, instead of the present practice where names are just submitted and after screening, portfolios are then assigned.

The motion by Adaelu was unanimously adopted by the House and committed to the Constitution Review Committee for further legislative work.

I am happy to announce that Adaelu's work has now been fully adopted by the National Assembly and will form part of the expected amendments to the constitution.

Yesterday, the Senate, after hearing the report of the Joint National Assembly Committee on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution as presented by Committee Chairman and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, voted overwhelmingly in support of the position canvassed by Hon. Adaelu.

Credit:Onyebuchi Ememanka