The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila yesterday at the resumption of plenary by the green chamber, said that the House would have to initiate interactions with state assemblies to fast-track the ongoing constitution amendment by the National Assembly.
Gbajabiamila expressed fears that with the ongoing electioneering activities, the process of amending the constitution may suffer a setback, hence the need for the House to engage members of the 36 states’ houses of assemblies, who are in possession of the document, to expedite the process.
In an address on Tuesday to welcome his colleagues back from their break during which political parties held their primary elections to elect candidates for various elective offices, Gbajabiamila said the 9th House must refocus on its mandate to achieve the target it set for itself in its Legislative Agenda.
“The constitutional amendment process is still ongoing. We have already sent several constitutional amendment bills to the State Houses of Assembly for consideration. While we cannot dictate the pace of activities in the State legislatures, we must consider the possibility that these proposals are at risk of being forgotten amidst the heightened politicking across the country.
“Therefore, to the extent that we can, there may be a need to coordinate interactions with the state legislatures to ensure timely consideration of the bills. The leadership of the House of Representatives will examine the options we have in this regard and take a decision shortly.”
At this material time, it is paramount to eulogies and and give kudos to the 7th Abia State House of Assembly ably led by Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, for not allowing ongoing political activities to divert the mandate of the House.
The Abia State House of Assembly last week concluded the 5th alteration to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, becoming the first State House of Assembly in the country to complete the process barely two months it received the bills from the National Assembly.
The Constitution amendment Bills among others seeks to give full autonomy to the Local Government Areas, the State Assemblies, the Judiciary and to further strengthen democracy in the Country.
At the moment, Abia State House of Assembly ranks first in the country for placing issues of National importance above politics, the passage of all the constitution amendment Bills by the house is commendation.
Kudos must be given to the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji and all the members of the current Abia State House of Assembly for achieving such a feat.
PUO.
