Senate appoints 34 members to review 1999 Constitution

Taiwo Adisa, Abuja - 09.05.2008

The Senate, on Thursday, named the 34 senators who will serve on the Joint Constitution Review Committee (JCCR), to be headed by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekwremadu.

Senate President, David Mark, who announced the names at the Thursday sitting, said the committee would be complete when the House of Representatives names its members.

The Senate selection committee had, three weeks ago, mandated senators from each of the states to meet and decide who among them would represent each of it.

But in some instances, where there were reports of bickering, the selection committee was said to have taken the decision on behalf of the senators.

When eventually inaugurated, the committee will hold public hearings across the states and collate views on the possible areas that would be reviewed in the 1999 Constitution.

Out of the names made public on Thursday, ranking senators had an edge, while principal officers were also to represent the states they hail from.