Reps Kick Against Sovereign National Conference While Making Move To Cut Powers Of President And Governors

A BILL for an Act to amend Section 315 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) yesterday passed through second reading in the House of Representatives.

The Bill seeks to amend Section 315 (2), which gives the executive arm of government at both the state and federal levels powers to modify existing laws.
According to Guardian Newspaper:

Section 315 (2) of the 1999 Constitution stipulates that "the appropriate authority may at any time by order make such modifications in the text of any existing law as the appropriate authority considers necessary or expedient to bring the law into conformity with the provisions of this constitution.''

Also, the House of Representatives yesterday told those calling for the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) to perish the thought and instead strengthen their belief in the National Assembly.

At a media briefing in the National Assembly, Spokesman of the House, Zakari Mohammed, described the called as "retrogressive."

Mohammed charged: "Nigerians should believe in the National Assembly. On what aegis is it (SNC) going to hold? SNC does not look nationalistic; it is dragging us backwards."

The lawmaker also admitted that the House ad hoc committee probing the fuel subsidy regime had been under pressure to compromise but assured that the panel would not cave in to pressure.

He stated that the House would take all necessary steps to ensure that the report of the committee was not swept under the carpet.

And, the House of Representatives yesterday rejected a motion seeking to stop contractors and companies from using kerosene in road construction.

The House ad-hoc committee on the fuel subsidy regime was recently told that these companies have been mixing kerosene with bitumen in road construction, which situation has created a scarcity of the product.

Meanwhile, Senate President David Mark yesterday stated that the upper chamber of the National Assembly has not initiated a process to amend the 1999 Constitution.

Mark spoke in Lagos at the public presentation of a book, Mamora, Years of Legislative Activism: A Memoir of Senator Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora, in honour of Mamora.

The Senate President made the disclosure in response to Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi's claims at the event that the Senate was on the Second Reading of a Constitution amendment process.

Mark said: "Once we start we will go round the country. Nobody has amended the constitution yet."