The National Assembly throwbacks start with the Constitution Amendment.

National Assembly Prepares for Constitution Amendment Process

 The National Assembly. This week, we're doing some Throwbacks, beginning with the Constitution Amendment. When Parliament resumes in September, the Constitution amendment process is expected to be prioritized and hopefully concluded in time before the political year 2026. One key Amendment that's been canvassed is the state policing system, and with what seems like the president's support for it, it is believed that it will be attained, unlike the last assembly. 

The National Assembly constituted the 1999 Constitution Amendment committees for both Chambers to be chaired by the deputy Senate President and Deputy Speaker respectively. The president of the Senate, Senator Goio, underscores the need for the Senate to review aspects of the Constitution against the backdrop of current realities. He stated that the committee would comprise one senator from each state and one from each geopolitical zone of the country and is expected to be inaugurated on February 20.

The National Assembly prepares for another round of constitutional Amendments, and the House of Representatives convened a stakeholders Dialogue on the state policing system in April this year. Former head of state General Abdus Salami Abubakar, former President Goodluck Jonathan, federal lawmakers, security agencies, members of The Diplomatic core, and traditional and religious leaders attended the one-day policy dialogue. There are lots of people who are very anxious that the police be reformed, that the police be given more power, be given more responsibility. Perhaps a way to go might actually be to decentralize the police in a way that ensures that the decentralization of the police safeguards it from abuse. The prospect of a state-level policy architecture which is at the heart of this dialogue is paramount given the imperatives of addressing the scourge of crime, insurgency, and various forms of violence that are impacting our development trajectory, thereby presenting a threat to the well-being and safety of all citizens.

The state police bill was rejected by federal lawmakers who fear that the state Governors may abuse the system. As we explore the models of State police that have been successful in other nations, we must be judicious in adopting these frameworks to fit our unique Nigerian situation. Listening to the speaker, gave the history; even in this country, we operated it before. Why is it that the military scrapped it? Because of the abuse, and that is the area we should concentrate on. 

The House of Representatives has various bills before it. One such bill is the parliamentary system of government, proposing that Nigeria move from federalism to the parliamentary system of government. There is also a bill on Election adjudication, which aims to reduce the time for tribunals to hear petitions, expedite presidential election petitions, bestow original jurisdiction of governorship election petitions on the court of appeal, and take away the powers of an election petition tribunal to declare a winner of an election where it invalidates the same election. Other bills include ones on the Devolution of powers, referendum, and more.

In a recent interview, Senator Francis Fari, representing Osun East Senatorial district, spoke on the quality of his representation of his people so far and future plans. He discussed issues such as power generation, distribution, and infrastructure development to improve the lives of his constituents.