Voted No to More Women Representation

Diaspora Voting Couldn’t Scale Through

Voted Yes for Local Government Autonomy

Soon after getting the Electoral Amendment Act (2022) out of the way, the two houses of the National Assembly have moved speedily to effect changes in 68 sections of the 1999 constitution by taking a clause by clause vote on the proposed amendment bills.

The outcome of the voting exercise shows that while some of the bills scaled through, others suffered major setbacks and sadly these included bills that would have enhanced the position of women in the polity

Though the two houses may have voted today, that is not final destination as the bills would be sent to a joint committee of the two houses for harmonization before a final passage by the National Assembly, after which the amendment proposals will be sent to states’ houses of Assembly for concurrence by two thirds majority that is at least 24 out of 36 states.

Contrary to expectations and the series of advocacy for women inclusion the two chambers, turned down a bill to provide for more seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly.

An insight into the amendment proceedings shows that the financial and administrative autonomy of local governments across Nigeria received a nod from the two chambers of the National Assembly. The federal legislature, voted in favour of Local Government administrative autonomy as a tier of government in the constitution to guarantee its democratic existence and tenure.

In the House of Representatives, the ‘YES’ votes which totaled 257 outweighed the 9 ‘NO’ votes on the bill to create a special account to which funds for local governments are to be paid directly from the Federation Account.

For the bill on local government autonomy, 258 Reps voted ‘YES’ while 15 voted ‘NO’. In the Senate, the bill for local government financial autonomy had 92 ‘YES’ votes and two ‘NO’ votes.

For the local government autonomy, 88 Senators voted ‘YES’ and 4 voted ‘NO’ while the bill seeking local government administrative autonomy had 88 ‘YES’ votes, four ‘NO’ votes.

The Senate, also passed a bill to empower the National Assembly and State Assemblies to summon the President and State Governors to answer questions bothering on security or any other issues on which the National and State Houses of Assembly have powers to make laws.

The bill seeks alteration to Section 67 of the Principal Act by inserting after subsection (3), a new subsection (4).

The new subsection (4) provides: “Nothing in this section shall preclude the National Assembly from summoning the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to attend a joint session of the National Assembly to answer questions on national security or any issue whatsoever, over which the National Assembly has powers to make laws”.

The bill further seeks to alter Section 108 of the Principal Act to insert a new subsection (4) to provide: “Nothing in this section shall preclude the House of Assembly of the State from summoning the Governor of the State to attend a sitting of the House of Assembly to answer questions on securoty or on any issue whatsoever, over which the House of Assembly has powers to male laws.”

Out of a total of 93 registered Senators, 77 voted in favour of the bill to summon the President and Governors, 13 against with 1 lawmaker abstaining, bringing total votes to 91.

The Senate also approved a bill to include Presiding Officers on the membership of the National Security Council.

Just as it passed a bill to make it an offence, it also provided for the possible conviction of any person who refuses to honour the summons of the National Assembly or any of its committee.

The Senate also rejected bills to alter Part I of the Second Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to include Value Added Tax on the Exclusive Legislative List; Removal of Transitional Law-making Powers of the Executive; to provide for Diaspora voting; to grant Mayoralty Status for the FCT; and appointment of Minister from the FCT.

Detailed of proceedings in the House of Representatives shows that a Bill For an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for the termination of tenure of certain elected officials on account of a change of political party; and for related matters was voted for Ayes 259; Nays 44.

A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the FRN, 1999 to establish the National and State Councils of Traditional Rulers to advise the President and Governors on matters related to customs, security and public order; and for related matters, Ayes 245:Nays 57

A Bill for An Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to make free, compulsory and basic education a fundamental right of all citizens under Chapter IV of the Constitution; and related matters; Ayes 307: Nays 1

A Bill for An Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for the appointment of a Minister from the FCT; and for related matters was passed.

A Bill for An Act to alter the provisions of The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, to provide for the Office of Mayor for the Federal Capital Territory Administration Abuja; and for Related Matters, 2022 was passed Ayes 245: Nays 53

A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for diaspora voting; and for related matters; Ayes 58: Nays 240

A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the FRN, 1999 to provide for independent candidacy in Presidential, Governorship, National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly and Local Government Councils elections;and for related matters; Ayes 269: Nays 28

A Bill for An Act to alter the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to enhance existing provisions on the formation of political Parties; and for related matters;
Ayes 295: Nays 5

A Bill for An Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to include former heads of the National Assembly in the Council of State; and for related matters; Ayes 282: Nays 14

A Bill for An Act to establish the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and of the State separate from the office of the Minister of Justice, or Commissioner for, Justice of the State in order to make the offices of the Attorneys-General independent and insulated from partisanship; and for related matters was also passed

A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to specify the timeframe for the conduct of population census; and For Related Matters; Ayes 289: Nays 5

A Bill for An Act to establish the office of the Accountant-General of the Federal Government separate from the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation; and for related matters;
Ayes 299: Nays 0

A Bill for an Act to alter the Second Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to empower the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly powers to summon the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Governors of States to answer questions on issues on which the National and State Houses of Assembly have powers to make laws; and for related matters; Ayes 305: Nays 3