Senate Constitutes 57-Member Committee to Review Constitution

Senate Constitutes 57-Member Committee to Review Constitution

The Nigerian Senate has constituted a 57-member committee to review the 1999 constitution. The Committee which is more than half of the Senate total membership will be chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege from Edo state. Senate President Ahmed Lawan made the announcement during plenary on Thursday. In his remarks, also said,

The Nigerian Senate has constituted a 57-member committee to review the 1999 constitution. The Committee which is more than half of the Senate total membership will be chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege from Edo state.

Senate President Ahmed Lawan made the announcement during plenary on Thursday. In his remarks, also said, “I want to use this opportunity to advise the committee that you represent the Senate and the entire National Assembly, even though the House will also constitute its own Constitution Review Committee.

“Distinguished Senators who are not members can still participate by giving any submission, and any advice they feel strongly about for this committee to succeed.

The committee has all principal officers as members; one Senator from each State of the Federation, and two Senators selected to represent each geo-political zone in the country.

Other principal officers on the Constitution Review Committee include: Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi; Deputy Leader, Ajayi Boroffice; Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe; Deputy Whip, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi; Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Bwacha; Minority Whip, Philip Aduda; and Deputy Minority Whip, Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u.

The lawmakers selected to represent each State include: Theordore Orji, Abia; Aishat Ahmed, Adamawa; Bassey Akpan, Akwa-Ibom; Stella Oduah, Anambra; Haliru Jika Dauda, Bauchi; Biobarukuma Deji-Eremenyo, Bayelsa; Gabriel Suswam, Benue; Abubakar Kyari, Borno; Gershom Bassey, Cross River; James Manager, Delta; Samuel Egwu, Ebonyi; Matthew Urhoghide, Edo; Opeyemi Bamidele, Ekiti; Ike Ekweremadu, Enugu; and Mohammed Danjuma Goje, Gombe.
Others are: Rochas Okorocha, Imo; Sabo Mohammed, Jigawa; Uba Sani, Kaduna; Kabiru Gaya, Kano; Baba Ahmed Kaita, Katsina; Mohammed Adamu Aliero, Kebbi; Smart Adeyemi, Kogi; Suleiman Sadiq Umar, Kwara; Oluremi Tinubu, Lagos; Abdullahi Adamu, Nasarawa; Mohammed Sani Musa, Niger; Ibikunle Amosun, Ogun; Nicholas Olubukola, Ondo; Surajudeen Ajibola, Osun; Teslim Folarin, Oyo; Hezekiah Ayuba, Plateau; George Thompson Sekibo, Rivers; Aliyu Wamakko, Sokoto; Yusuf A. Yusuf, Taraba; Ibrahim Geidam, Yobe; and Mohammed Hassan, Zamfara.

Representatives of Geo-political zones are: Bala Ibn Na’Allah and Ibrahim Shekarau, North-West; Kashim Shettima and Lawal Yahaya, North-East; Tanko Al-Makura and Yakubu Oseni, North-Central; Abdulfatai Buhari and Biodun Olujimi, South-West; Lilian Uche Ekwunife and Chukwuka Utazi, South-East; Rose Oko and Akon Eyakenyi, South-South.

The Senate President charged the committee, to engage not only members of the National Assembly and other statutory bodies like INEC, Civil Society groups, but also Nigerians who are interested in the way and manner the National Assembly does its our duties.

“Nigerians definitely have interest in the Constitution Review that the National Assembly will embark upon. There are several issues that Nigerians feel strongly about. And, the Constitution Review Committee is supposed to be a platform where such issues will be brought, and where those who are interested should ensure that they make every possible effort, including presentations for their views to be considered.

“As a National Assembly, particularly the Senate, we want to have a very stable country. We want a country that gives every citizen the opportunity to actualize his or her dream. We want to have a security that is enhanced and an economy that works for everyone.

“Stability of the polity is important, we need to have a country before we run for elections, or indeed undertake any activity. So, we advise that any organization or individual who has anything that should be taken on by the committee should make submissions to the Constitution Review Committee,” Senator Lawan said.

The 57 Senators are to be joined by their counterparts from the House of Representatives and jointly collate amendments to the constitution for ratification by the National Assembly and States Houses of Assembly before being sent to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent.

There are issues bordering on restructuring and the electoral process craving for Nigerians’ attention. Nigerians are expectant that this review will be far reaching.

Ayo Aluko-Olokun
ADMINISTRATOR
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