Constitution Amendment: Gbajabiamila, Lawan lobby governors to save local govt autonomy, 43 other bills

The Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila have appealed to governors to allow the 44 constitution alteration bills sent to the States Houses of Assembly to scale through.

The two lawmakers made the plea on Monday at Distinguished Parliamentarians Lecture 2022 series organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in Abuja on Monday.

It would be recalled that there is a current face-off between the governors and the federal lawmakers over the State Police bill rejected by the National Assembly.

The governors, who want the lawmakers to sign the reconsider the police bill, have reportedly gave a condition that the state police bill must be reconsidered or States Assembly won’t proceed with the amendment process.

According to the 1999 constitution, constitution amendment bills must be passed by the National Assembly and must also be passed by 24 States Houses of Assembly, however, the impasse between the governors and the lawmakers put the bills at risk.

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Lawan, in his speech, urged Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir Elrufai, who was present at the event, to help lobby his colleagues.

He disclosed that the National Assembly is yet to get response from the states legislature, adding that the clock is ticking on the process.

“We will ask you to lobby for us. We have sent (to the States) the outcome of our Constitution review and we are yet to receive all from the States. So, we should be able to wind up this process by getting responses from the state Houses of Assembly.

“Even if it is one month left, we have the capacity to work together to ensure that we pass some of the legislations that are required in a very expeditious manner. Plead, lobby your Governor colleagues for us because I can see that you do that very well,” he urged.

Also speaking on the bills, Gbajabiamila said the lawmakers are not certain the process can be completed in this assembly.

He joined the Senate President in appealing to the governors to speed up the process.

“That process now seems to have stalled in the State Assemblies. As it is today, it is doubtful that the current constitutional amendment effort will conclude before the expiration of this legislative term.

“However, the appeal made by the Senate President to Governor Nasir el-Rufai for the required cooperation of Governors on the exercise may bring the process back to life.”