President Assents Constitution Amendment Bills

President Assents Constitution Amendment Bills
Uche Aneke, Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria has signed the first and second amendments of the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly into law.

President Jonathan while signing the bills into law on Tuesday, at the State House Abuja, described the event as very unique.

He stated that the conclusion of the amendments, which were the first in the political history of Nigeria , was made possible by the able leadership of the two arms of the National Assembly.

Jonathan said the signing should have been like any other duty without speeches but for the fact that it was the first time an amendment to the country's constitution was being made, adding that after inaugurating the next legislature, he would send more Executive Bills on further amendments.

''Today is a unique day in the history of our country. For the National Assembly to successfully amend the constitution means they have been working in concert with the executive. After the inauguration of the next National Assembly by the grace of God, one of the first executive bills that will go to them from us will be to amend other sections of the constitution. It will be a continuous process until we have a constitution that reflects the thinking and aspirations of all Nigerians,'' President Jonathan said.

The controversy over the legality of the amendments to the 1999 Constitution was finally rested with the signing. He also assented to two amendments to the Electoral Act.

With the assent, the various steps taken by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with respect to the April poll have now been fully covered by the law.

Twenty-nine of the 50 clauses of the 1999 Constitution proposed for amendment by the National Assembly finally scaled through the hurdle of state houses of assembly to finalise the first amendments.

With additional report from NP/Yinka