The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Aminu Tambuwal, has said that the assembly would consider and adopt the report of its Ad Hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution before proceeding on annual recess.
He said this while presenting the report of the committee to the plenary session of house on Thursday.
“We shall consult with the leadership and look at the possibility of considering the report before we go on vacation,” he said.
He said that copies of the amended constitution would be made available to members preparatory to the consideration of the report.
The Speaker applauded the committee for its commitment to the amendment process.
Presenting the report, the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Emeka Ihedioha, said the committee received 35 requests for creation of states.
He said that none of the requests submitted to the committee complied with the procedure for the creation of states as contained in Section 8 of the constitution.
“The committee, however, recognises that the existing provision in the constitution for the creation of new states is unclear and cumbersome.
Ihedioha said that the committee carried out a ‘thorough job” in line with the mandate given to it by the assembly.
He urged the house to expedite action on the consideration and adoption of the report to quicken its passage.
“The house should expedite the process of alteration of the constitution requiring collaboration with the Senate and the State Houses of Assembly, “he said.
He said that the house referred about 25 bills to the committee for further legislative action, after they had been read the second time following debates on their general principles.
The deputy speaker said that the review of the constitution was made possible by the support and encouragement of the speaker and the entire of house.
