Saraki
responds to questions from left: Editor-in-Chief, News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN), Mallam Yusuf Zango; and a Deputy Editor-in-Chief/Head of
Political Desk in NAN, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, Saraki responds to
questions from left: Editor-in-Chief, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN),
Mallam Yusuf Zango; and a Deputy Editor-in-Chief/Head of Political Desk
in NAN, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, By Ifeanyi Nwoko
The President of
the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has said that presidential assent was an
unnecessary addition to the process of amendment of the Constitution.
He
told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that it was with
conviction on that that the 8th National Assembly approved the removal
of presidential assent to an amended constitution.
The 7th
Assembly had in 2015, while reviewing the 1999 Constitution, approved
the removal of presidential assent from the process of the amendment.
But,
the then president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, refused assent to the
amendment because of the removal of the clause contained in Section 9 of
the 1999 Constitution.
Jonathan had insisted that the amendment
would have been valid if supported by votes of not less than four-fifth
majority of all the members of each chamber of the National Assembly.
In
addition, he said that it also ought to have been approved by a
resolution of the House of Assembly of not less than two-thirds of all
the states as provided by Section 9 (3) of the 1999 Constitution.
However,
Saraki said that going by the process of amending the Constitution, the
final decision of federal and state legislatures should be seen as the
decision of the people.
“Well, to me, if two-thirds of the
National Assembly agrees to something and two-thirds of the state
assemblies also agree, in my view, the President should accept that as
the wish of the people.
“Does he really need to assent?
Personally, I don’t think so; that is my personal view, because with
two-third of National Assembly, two-third of states’ assemblies, the
people have spoken,” he said.
Saraki added that the senate would
follow up on the amendment process in the states to ensure that there
was wide consultation and sensitisation.
No comments
Post a Comment