#Abuja Nigeria: Senate, House Adopts 23 Out Of 71 Constitutional Amendment Proposals Recommended

Senate President David Mark (Photo thisdaylive)

The Nigerian Up Chamber, aka Senate on Tuesday approved the Conference Committee report of the National Assembly on the review of the 1999 Constitution by adopting 23 out of the 71 amendment proposals recommended by both chambers of the National Assembly. In this latest draft as approved by the reconciliatory committee of both the upper and lower houses, the following are thought be the major issues considered;

(1) LGs granted autonomy, INEC to conduct council elections and only Democratically elected council leadership can draw on the council allocation.
(2) Health, housing, wages, land, others moved from Exclusive to Concurrent List
(3) Immunity clause retained
(4) Office of Attorney General, Justice Ministry to be Separated

The lower chamber, while voting on the report of the conference committee of both houses of the National Assembly a few days ago, had rejected the retention of immunity in the constitution but the Senate retained it.

During the voting, the House jettisoned the conference committee report and insisted on its earlier recommendation, which removed immunity for heads of the executive arm of government.

The Senate did not adopt the report last week because it could not secure the required two-thirds majority to do so the immunity stays, according to thisdaylive.com.