From Kemi Yesufu,Abuja
Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, yesterday, said alteration and amendment of the 1999 Constitution restructuring is the only route to restructuring Nigeria.
Speaking at a public hearing organised by the Yussuff Lasun-led House Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution at the National Assembly premises, yesterday, Dogara, however, argued that the parliament will not constitute a stumbling block to the wishes and aspirations of Nigerians for genuine changes in the constitution.
The public hearing was organised by the committee, to collate stakeholders input on “A bill for An Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) to reflect the proposals initiated by the Judiciary (HB858)” which was presented to the House by Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.
The move is to consolidate all recommendations requiring constitutional alterations by heads of courts and judicial bodies.
“Agitations for restructuring of the governance framework for Nigeria can only be done through alterations of the constitution.
“I wish to say, that the House of Representatives and indeed, the National Assembly, is ready to do its part in terms of amending the constitution, when consensus has been reached on any matter by stakeholders and Nigerian citizens,” the speaker said.
He expressed optimism that the piece-meal approach adopted by the House for amending the constitution will be effective, “as the constitution is a living document that can be reviewed to meet the aspirations of the people, when deemed necessary.”
The committee is also considering a bill for an act to alter section 291 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) to provide for uniform mandatory retirement age of 70 years for all judicial officers, whose primary purpose is to alter the constitution to provide for a uniform mandatory retirement age of 70 years for all judicial officers.