On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed 39 constitutional amendment bills for second reading, which could be described as massive and a watershed if passed, but it still falls short of the expectations of the making of a peoples’ constitution.

The road to the adoption of such amendments is still long. The bills will still go to the different committees of the National Assembly which will organise public hearings and thereafter return to the two chambers of the Assembly for passage or rejection. The two chambers will then harmonise their differences in the bills before adopting a final copy that will be sent to the 36 states of the federation. Two-thirds of the states must consent to the bills before being sent to the President for his assent to consummate the amendments.

The bills cover a wide range of areas and subject matters, most of which are topical and dominating discourse in the polity. One of the bills is for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 cap. c23 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to establish and empower the political parties registration and regulatory commission to register, regulate, and monitor the organisation and operation of political parties.

A bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, cap. c23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1999 (power of proclamation of new Assembly by Clerk or NASS/Clerk of House Assembly) and to make provision for the Chief Justice of Niger to proclaim the inauguration of the National Assembly.

The other bills are: A bill for general elections to the office of the President, state governors, National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly and Local Government Area Councils shall be conducted simultaneously on the same date.
A bill for an Act to further alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for the determination of all appeals arising from election petition tribunals before swearing-in of president-elect, vice-president-elect, governor-elect, deputy governor-elect, members-elect of the national and state assemblies.

A bill for an act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to vest the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with the power to conduct local government area council elections.

A bill for an Act to alter Sections 68(1)(g) & 109(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to require the official resignation from political party before defection by members of the national assembly and state house of assembly.

A bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, cap. c23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to establish the national local government electoral commission as an independent body responsible for organising, conducting, and supervising elections into the offices of chairmen and councillors of all the local governments across the federation, including the area councils of the Federal Capital Territory.

A bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, cap. c23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1999 (power of proclamation of new Assembly by Clerk or NASS/Clerk of House Assembly) and to make provision for the Chief Justice of Niger to make proclamation on the inauguration of National Assembly.

A bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to establish the FCT House of Assembly.

A bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered), to provide for special seats for the physically challenged persons in Nigeria’s federal, state, and local government areas, and legislative houses.

A bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to permit public servants to engage in healthcare education, production, and services beyond farming and related matters.

Other bills include a bill for the Establishment of State Police and Local Government Police;a bill to Establish the FCT House of Assembly; a bill to make Court of Appeal the Final Appeal Court in Governorship, National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petitions; a bill to Provide for Compulsory Resignation of National and State Executive Members of Political Parties Seeking Elective Government Positions.

A bill to Provide for the Determination of All Appeals Arising from Election Petition Tribunals Before the Swearing-in of President-Elect, Vice-President-Elect, Governor-Elect, Deputy Governor-Elect, Members-Elect of the National and State Assemblies.

A bill to Vest the INEC with the Power to Conduct Local Government Area Council Elections. A bill to Require the Official Resignation from a Political Party before Defection by Members of the National Assembly and State House of Assembly.

A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to grant the National Assembly Power to Alter Timelines for Election Tribunals.

A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Cap. C23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Establish the National Local Government Electoral Commission as an Independent Body Responsible for Organising, Conducting, and Supervising Elections into the Offices of Chairmen and Councilors of all the Local Governments Across the Federation, Including the Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory, ensure the Credibility, Transparency, and Fairness of Local Government Elections and Promote Democratic Governance at the Grassroots Level.

A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to relieve the State Independent Electoral Commissions of the powers to conduct Local Government Council elections and bestow same on the Independent National Electoral Commission.

A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered) to Provide for Special Seats for the Physically Challenged Persons in Nigeria’s Federal, State and Local Government Areas, and Legislative Houses.

A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as (amended) to provide for Six Special Seats for Special Interest Groups in the House of Representatives.

A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Change the Name of the Auditor-General of the Federation to Auditor-General of the Federal Government.

A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to Remove the Restriction Placed on Power and Duties of the Auditor-General of the Federation and States by Sections 85(2) and 125(2) Respectively and to Insert New Sections in the Constitution that Shall Provide for the Financial Autonomy of the Offices of the Auditor-General of the Federation and of the States.

A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to strengthen the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation and the Auditor-General of a State.

A Bill to Establish and Empower the Political Parties Registration and Regulatory Commission to Register, Regulate, and Monitor the Organisation and Operation of Political Parties.

A Bill to Expand the Number of Justices of the Supreme Court, Enhance Service Efficiency and Timely Dispensation of Justices, Improve Citizens’ Access to Justice and Conform with Federal Character Principles.