By The House of Representatives on Tuesday advanced 39 bills seeking amendments to the 1999 Constitution, covering judicial reforms, governance, security, elections, and legislative matters.
The bills were passed collectively following a motion by House Leader Hon. Julius Ihonvbere. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, suspended House rules to facilitate their swift passage to the Constitution Review Committee.
Key proposals include:
Electoral Reforms: Conducting all general elections simultaneously, granting INEC authority over local government elections, and requiring politicians to resign from party positions before contesting elections.
Judiciary & Governance: Expanding the Court of Appeal’s jurisdiction, creating an FCT House of Assembly, mandating NJC recommendations for judicial removals, and limiting executive transitional law-making powers.
Security: Establishing state and local government police forces.
Inclusive Governance: Allocating special legislative seats for physically challenged persons and special interest groups.
Other bills seek to regulate election timelines, alter tribunal deadlines, establish an Ecclesiastical Court of Appeal, and require prompt executive presentation of treaties for legislative approval.
