Oyo Speaker calls for speedy deliberation on 44 constitution amendment bills by state Houses of Assemblies

…says clamour for people-oriented constitution continues

Richard Thomas, Ibadan

Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin has urged his co-speakers across the country to ensure careful scrutiny of the 44 constitution amendment bills transmitted to state Houses of Assembly by the National Assembly.

Ogundoyin gave the charge while addressing the first quarter general meeting of Conference of Speakers of state legislatures, which held inside the IITA, Ibadan.

According to him, the most important assignment before the various state Houses of Assembly at the moment was the 44 constitution amendment bills.

“The present review of Nigeria’s constitution, the fifth since the document came into effect in 1999 is an important endeavor which will be taken seriously and given all the attention it deserves; hence we have set ball rolling.

“Our various Houses of Assembly have by now received 44 alteration bills approved for review by the National Assembly. Our inputs are pivotal and crucial as two-thirds or 24 out of 36 state Houses of Assembly must vote and approve the amendments before they are forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.

“I want to make a passionate appeal to my colleagues at the state Houses of Assembly to hit the ground running on the national assignment before us so that we can deliver on time.

“My joy is boundless because Nigeria’s legislature is poised to play its part in bringing to fruition the agitations of millions of Nigerians on the need for constitutional review,” the Speaker said

Hon Ogundoyin noted that the conference afforded the speakers the opportunity of discussing the alterations and x-raying and gaining more knowledge about emerging issues there from.

He expressed optimism that all hope was not lost on some proposed amendments that were not approved by the Special Adhoc Committee of the National Assembly, adding that there would always be another opportunity for another set of reviews in future.

The Oyo speaker appealed to all groups and associations that want some sections modified in the 1999 constitution to continue the struggle and clamour until a people-oriented constitution is achieved.