By MARK ITSIBOR, Abuja

The two chambers of the National Assembly have perfected plans to strip the executive arm of government of the power to prosecute persons suspected to have committed any offence against the Nigerian state

In the ongoing constitution amendment, the National Assembly is putting finishing touches on a legislation which aims at separating the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and those of the states from the office of the minister of or commissioner for justice.

The 8th Assembly has also approved a Bill for an Act seeking to make the office of the Auditor-General of the Federation and those of the states financially independent by placing them on the consolidated revenue of the federation and of the state.

The Bill provides for new sections ‘84A – 84E’ in section 84, which stipulates that “there shall be an Accountant-General of the Federation” and “there shall be an Accountant-General of the Federal Government”, respectively.

These amendments are part of the 23 item resolution approved by the House of Representatives Special Ad-hoc Committee on constitutional review, headed by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Yussuff Sulaimon Lasun.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the 23 items were also ratified by the constitutional review committee of the Senate, headed by the deputy Senate president, Ike Ekwerenmadu.

The Bill seeking to establish the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and of the states separately from the office of the Minister of or commissioner for justice is aimed at making the office of the Attorneys-General independent and insulated from partisanship.

According to the Bill, the Attorney-General of the Federation shall not be a member of any political party and shall hold office for a single term of seven years and no more until he attains the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier
It also seeks to redefine the role of the Attorney-General and provide a fixed tenure, increase the age and qualification for appointment as well as provide for more independent process for the appointment of the Attorney-General.

The Bill seeks to amend sections 150 and 174 of the 1999 constitution (as amended).
Section 150 (1) stipulates that “there shall be an Attorney General of the Federation who shall be the Chief Law Officer and a Minister of the Government of the Federation”.

In the proposed amendment, the section provides that “there shall be a Minister of Justice who shall be a Minister and Chief Law Officer of the Government of the Federation”.

While a new insertion is being proposed to section 174 (A) which provides that “there shall be an Attorney-General of the Federation who shall be appointed by the President subject to confirmation by the Senate”.

The amendment further proposes that a person shall not be qualified to hold or perform the functions of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation unless he is qualified to practise as a legal practitioner in Nigeria and has been so qualified for not less than ten years.
But in the case of the Minister, “a person shall not be qualified to hold or perform the functions of the office of Minister of Justice of the Government of the Federation unless he is qualified to practise as a legal practitioner in Nigeria and has been so qualified for not less than fifteen years”.

In the case of Attorneys-General of states, the bill seeks to amend sections 195 and 211 of the constitution.
Section 195 stipulates that “there shall be an Attorney-General for each State who shall be the Chief law Officer and Commissioner for Justice of the Government of that State”.

But in the proposed amendment, the section provides that “here shall be a Commissioner for Justice of the Government of a State”, while a new insertion to section 211 provides that “there shall be an Attorney-General of a State who shall be appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the State House of Assembly”.

According to the Bill, the Attorney- General of a state shall not be a member of any political party and shall hold office for a single term of six years and no more until he attains the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier.
Meanwhile, the Bill which proposes to guarantee independence for the office of the Auditor-General for the Federation and for the State seeks to amend Section 6 of the First Alteration No.1, 2011 by inserting in subsection (3) a new paragraph “(d)” “(d) office of the Auditor-General for the Federation.

The Bill also seeks to alter Section 121 of the Principal Act by substituting for subsection (3), with a new subsection “(3)” thus: “Any amount standing to the credit of the- Auditor-General for the State, and Judiciary, in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State shall be paid directly to the said bodies respectively, in the case of judiciary, such amount shall be paid directly to the heads of the courts concerned.




http://leadership.ng/2017/06/20/nass-moves-strip-executive-power-prosecute/

do it jor executive powers are too much

Give back power to the people..not creating more high profile jobs for these pot bellied thieving politicians.

Re-structure all political and government systems to give our life a meaning or better still, call for a referendum.

Chai! See what Nigeria have been reduced to. Meanwhile it's not the fault of the NASS but an equally super-clueless corrupt presidency that uses deodorant for executive corruption while trying to be tough on others.

[/b]"According to the Bill, the Attorney-General of the Federation shall not be a member of any political party and shall hold office for a single term of seven years and no more until he attains the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier"[b] This is a tall dream as far as Nigeria is concerned.

This is the first sensible thing that is coming from this National Assembly.

This is what you get in a country like Nigeria when you try to be more democratic than John F. Kennedy. Buhari's choice of non-interference in the NASS leadership elections has proven to be his biggest political mistake yet.

The National Assembly has turned out to be the proverbial maggot inside our national corn. They always seek to whittle down the powers of everyone and everything else but themselves. They understand it is easier to mussle the judiciary and have them do one's bidding than it is the executive hence their choice of action.

When are they ever gonna sincerely pursue a cut in their take home?

Who's gonna bell this cat for the love of Christ?

[s]

omenkaLives:
This is what you get in a country like Nigeria when you try to be more democratic than John F. Kennedy. Buhari's choice of non-interference in the NASS leadership elections has proven to be his biggest political mistake yet.

The National Assembly has turned out to be the proverbial maggot inside our national corn. They always seek to whittle down the powers of everyone and everything else but themselves. They understand it is easier to mussle the judiciary and have them do one's bidding than it is the executive hence their choice of action.

When are they ever gonna sincerely pursue a cut in their take home?

Who's gonna bell this cat for the love of Christ?

[/s]
Shatap

kole werk

CCB and CCT that are independents, what have become of them?

omenkaLives:
This is what you get in a country like Nigeria when you try to be more democratic than John F. Kennedy. Buhari's choice of non-interference in the NASS leadership elections has proven to be his biggest political mistake yet.

The National Assembly has turned out to be the proverbial maggot inside our national corn. They always seek to whittle down the powers of everyone and everything else but themselves. They understand it is easier to mussle the judiciary and have them do one's bidding than it is the executive hence their choice of action.

When are they ever gonna sincerely pursue a cut in their take home?

Who's gonna bell this cat for the love of Christ?

Did you really read the story or you just want to grumble.


What NASS is proposing is good because there will no longer be Executive interference in prosecution of high profile cases. People like Lootimi Amaechi can be prosecuted because the Attorney General of the Federation will not be a member of any political party.



Stop grumbling and read

martooski:
By MARK ITSIBOR, Abuja

The two chambers of the National Assembly have perfected plans to strip the executive arm of government of the power to prosecute persons suspected to have committed any offence against the Nigerian state

In the ongoing constitution amendment, the National Assembly is putting finishing touches on a legislation which aims at separating the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and those of the states from the office of the minister of or commissioner for justice.

The 8th Assembly has also approved a Bill for an Act seeking to make the office of the Auditor-General of the Federation and those of the states financially independent by placing them on the consolidated revenue of the federation and of the state.

The Bill provides for new sections ‘84A – 84E’ in section 84, which stipulates that “there shall be an Accountant-General of the Federation” and “there shall be an Accountant-General of the Federal Government”, respectively.

These amendments are part of the 23 item resolution approved by the House of Representatives Special Ad-hoc Committee on constitutional review, headed by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Yussuff Sulaimon Lasun.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the 23 items were also ratified by the constitutional review committee of the Senate, headed by the deputy Senate president, Ike Ekwerenmadu.

The Bill seeking to establish the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and of the states separately from the office of the Minister of or commissioner for justice is aimed at making the office of the Attorneys-General independent and insulated from partisanship.

According to the Bill, the Attorney-General of the Federation shall not be a member of any political party and shall hold office for a single term of seven years and no more until he attains the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier
It also seeks to redefine the role of the Attorney-General and provide a fixed tenure, increase the age and qualification for appointment as well as provide for more independent process for the appointment of the Attorney-General.

The Bill seeks to amend sections 150 and 174 of the 1999 constitution (as amended).
Section 150 (1) stipulates that “there shall be an Attorney General of the Federation who shall be the Chief Law Officer and a Minister of the Government of the Federation”.

In the proposed amendment, the section provides that “there shall be a Minister of Justice who shall be a Minister and Chief Law Officer of the Government of the Federation”.

While a new insertion is being proposed to section 174 (A) which provides that “there shall be an Attorney-General of the Federation who shall be appointed by the President subject to confirmation by the Senate”.

The amendment further proposes that a person shall not be qualified to hold or perform the functions of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation unless he is qualified to practise as a legal practitioner in Nigeria and has been so qualified for not less than ten years.
But in the case of the Minister, “a person shall not be qualified to hold or perform the functions of the office of Minister of Justice of the Government of the Federation unless he is qualified to practise as a legal practitioner in Nigeria and has been so qualified for not less than fifteen years”.

In the case of Attorneys-General of states, the bill seeks to amend sections 195 and 211 of the constitution.
Section 195 stipulates that “there shall be an Attorney-General for each State who shall be the Chief law Officer and Commissioner for Justice of the Government of that State”.

But in the proposed amendment, the section provides that “here shall be a Commissioner for Justice of the Government of a State”, while a new insertion to section 211 provides that “there shall be an Attorney-General of a State who shall be appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the State House of Assembly”.

According to the Bill, the Attorney- General of a state shall not be a member of any political party and shall hold office for a single term of six years and no more until he attains the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier.
Meanwhile, the Bill which proposes to guarantee independence for the office of the Auditor-General for the Federation and for the State seeks to amend Section 6 of the First Alteration No.1, 2011 by inserting in subsection (3) a new paragraph “(d)” “(d) office of the Auditor-General for the Federation.

The Bill also seeks to alter Section 121 of the Principal Act by substituting for subsection (3), with a new subsection “(3)” thus: “Any amount standing to the credit of the- Auditor-General for the State, and Judiciary, in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State shall be paid directly to the said bodies respectively, in the case of judiciary, such amount shall be paid directly to the heads of the courts concerned.




http://leadership.ng/2017/06/20/nass-moves-strip-executive-power-prosecute/

Your country is a huge joke!

QueenOfNepal:
Did you really read the story or you just want to grumble.


What NASS is proposing is good because there will no longer be Executive interference in prosecution of high profile cases. People like Lootimi Amaechi can be prosecuted because the Attorney General of the Federation will not be a member of any political party.



Stop grumbling and read

The Executive should be allowed to choose its own Attorney General. The President is the Chief Law Enforcement officer of the country, whats the point calling him that if he can't choose trusted aides to actualize his vision. I understand that there should be some sort of independence but your NA is going too far. So who nominates the Att.Gen if the President can't?

Omenka is right, Buhari's biggest mistake was not destroying the crook Saraki when he had the chance.

cursedAbiola:

Shatap

Hahaha. You and that guy sef. Lol

Who will now prosecute crimes against the state?
Persons appointed by the FG abi?

Ispiksdatroof20:


The Executive should be allowed to choose its own Attorney General. The President is the Chief Law Enforcement officer of the country, whats the point calling him that if he can't choose trusted aides to actualize his vision. I understand that there should be some sort of independence but your NA is going too far. So who nominates the Att.Gen if the President can't?

Omenka is right, Buhari's biggest mistake was not destroying the crook Saraki when he had the chance.

Our democracy needs a real independent prosecutor who should be appointed by NJC then screened by NASS before the Executive approves it. That way the Prosecutor holds favour to the three arms of government and at the same time doesn't hold any favour to any of them. Independence of the office of the Attorney General is key here.



Omenka is too emotional so he doesn't know that without the NASS the spirit of Seperation of Powers and Checks and balances will be dead. Buhari would have become the New Hitler

QueenOfNepal:
Did you really read the story or you just want to grumble.


What NASS is proposing is good because there will no longer be Executive interference in prosecution of high profile cases. People like Lootimi Amaechi can be prosecuted because the Attorney General of the Federation will not be a member of any political party.



Stop grumbling and read

Attorney general will not be a member of any political party?

How naive can one be..

Smh.

When is the useless NASS gonna discuss a cut in their take home, I ask again.

omenkaLives:
Attorney general will not be a member of any political party?

How naive can one be..

Smh.

When is the useless NASS gonna discuss a cut in their take home, I ask again.

Read the story again without prejudice or emotions.



The NASS salary imbroglio shouldn't be a reason we should hate them because more than a billiin naira was budgeted for Aso rock clinic but Buhari prefers using London hospital anytime he experience indigestion.


In summary, use the same cain for NASS and Presidency

[s]

omenkaLives:
Attorney general will not be a member of any political party?

How naive can one be..

Smh.

When is the useless NASS gonna discuss a cut in their take home, I ask again.

[/s]
trash

NothingDoMe:
Hahaha. You and that guy sef. Lol

Omenkalives na my boi

This is what you get when you let Saraki off the hook of the CCT. So they can easily bribe their way through just as they are with the judges. DOA!. Saraki knows this is his last shot as the Senate president.

omenkaLives:
This is what you get in a country like Nigeria when you try to be more democratic than John F. Kennedy. Buhari's choice of non-interference in the NASS leadership elections has proven to be his biggest political mistake yet.

The National Assembly has turned out to be the proverbial maggot inside our national corn. They always seek to whittle down the powers of everyone and everything else but themselves. They understand it is easier to mussle the judiciary and have them do one's bidding than it is the executive hence their choice of action.

When are they ever gonna sincerely pursue a cut in their take home?

Who's gonna bell this cat for the love of Christ?

Is buhari no longer the sheriff that will bail everything? Haba!!!! Why are ypu loosing hope this early?

omenkaLives:
This is what you get in a country like Nigeria when you try to be more democratic than John F. Kennedy. Buhari's choice of non-interference in the NASS leadership elections has proven to be his biggest political mistake yet.

The National Assembly has turned out to be the proverbial maggot inside our national corn. They always seek to whittle down the powers of everyone and everything else but themselves. They understand it is easier to mussle the judiciary and have them do one's bidding than it is the executive hence their choice of action.

When are they ever gonna sincerely pursue a cut in their take home?

Who's gonna bell this cat for the love of Christ?

Gbamest

They should just hurry up and amend the constitution to enable them promote corruption...that is what they really want after all!