Constitution Review: Reps Ask States To Nominate Members - Bankole Parleys NNPC Probe Panel on Modalities

Bola Badmus, Abuja - 03.05.2008

Preparations for the take-off of the review of the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly have commenced as the House of Representatives on Friday requested the states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) caucuses in the Chamber to nominate their members who will represent them on the committee expected to be inaugurated for the exercise.

The National Assembly is expected to set up a joint committee on the review exercise with membership to be drawn from the Senate and House of Representatives.

Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Eziuche Ubani, made the disclosure on Friday during a press briefing.

Ubani, who spoke with newsmen, also explained the motive behind the parley which Speaker Oladimeji Bankole, had with the members of the committee investigating the power sector within the week.

The House spokesman said the leadership had asked the caucuses in the House to nominate members who would serve on the review committee.

According to him, the leadership is determined to ensure fairness, equity in the process of reviewing the constitution, saying the essence was to see that the positions of the various states were captured during the debate on the floor of the House.

“As you know and can see, the House of Representatives takes this exercise as a serious one and every step is being taken to make it a huge success. After the discussion on the matter on the floor of the House, the leadership has asked the state caucuses to forward names of their nominees for the membership of the review committee.

“As I talk to you, the caucuses are working and it is after that that we will move to the next step,” he said.

Speaking on the meeting the Speaker held with the members of the committee set up to probe the NNPC, Ubani said the parley came about because of the sensitive nature of the assignment.