Reps want aspects of 1999 constitution altered

Idowu Samuel, Abuja - 25.04.2008

The House of Representatives on Thursday agreed with the step taken by the Senate to amend the 1999 Constitution as it stressed that the process of amendment would entail alteration of salient areas meant to restructure Nigeria as a true federal country.

The House took the decision during its plenary session with a motion moved by its Leader, Honourable Tunde Akogun and suspended its procedures with Order 8, Rule 8, to consider the amendment.

According to representatives who spoke in support of the amendment, what Nigeria needed to perfect the constitution was not a review or amendment, but an alteration of some key areas which had been rendering the constitution ineffective.

Members agreed to substitute the words “review and “amendment” with ‘’alter’’ to suit the basic motive for the initiative to perfect the constitution. Akogun, who led the debate on the amendment, said this was the best time to tinker with the constitution which many Nigerians, according to him, claimed had many flaws.

Akogun said the proposed alteration of the constitution became imperative for Nigeria to undergo a process of national rebirth, adding that the process, if completed, would assist in restoring the confidence in Nigeria as their country.

He made a case for the setting up of a special committee to identify the faulty areas in the constitution and determine the modality for effecting the necessary changes.