National
Assembly Begin Public Hearing on Review of 1999 Constitution
Obiora Ani and Lateefat
Afegbua, Abuja
Five
areas of public concern are expected to be given more attention
during the review of the 1999 constitution as public hearing get
underway.
The Senate President, David
Mark, gave this hint while declaring open a National Public
Hearing on the Alteration to the Provisions of the 1999 Nigerian
Constitution, in Abuja
He listed the concentrated
areas as the Electoral system, Land Reforms and State Creation,
Local Government Administration and Rotation of power.
The Senate President said
these issues merited consideration, as national consensus
appeared to have deepened on the Electoral Reforms and States
Creation.
Also speaking in the session, INEC Chairman, Professor Maurice
Iwu suggested that Nigeria should fashion the constitution to
suit its own pattern and not comparing the country with other
countries.
Speaking on future elections, he said that recommendations are
needed on how Nigerians outside the country will take part in
future elections.
To make this possible, he suggested that Nigerian Embassies
should monitor elections in their various countries.
The Chairman of the Senate
Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Deputy Senate
President, Ike Ekweremadu, said that the National Assembly
intends to begin the process of harmonizing its positions, in a
short while, in order to give Nigerians the constitutional
changes that the country deserves.
Land Rate
Meanwhile, The House of
Representatives has directed the Minister of the Federal Capital
Territory, Alhaji Adamu Aliero, to stop the collection of the
new land rate pending the outcome of the public hearing on the
issue.
This followed a motion on the
recent 900 percent upward review of land charges in the Federal
Capital Territory, brought by Representative Mayor Eze.
The House expressed concern
that the FCT administration took the decision on the new charges
without the approval of the National Assembly.
It further noted that any
decision taken by the FCT Minister or any other officer of the
executive that imposed financial burden on its citizenry
required the prior scrutiny and approval of the National
Assembly.
The House therefore mandated
its joint committees on the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Area
Councils and Ancillary matters to conduct a public hearing on
the recent upward review of land charges in the Federal Capital
Territory and report back.
Qasim/
Ahaziah
