Governors want NASS to harmonise positions on review of constitution

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Wednesday night, called on the National Assembly to harmonise its positions on the review of the 1999 Constitution.

The Chairman of the forum, Alhaji Abdul aziz Yari, made the call while answering questions from newsmen after an extra ordinary meeting of the forum at the old Banquet hall, the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Yari, who is also the Governor of Zamfara stated that the forum convened the meeting to solely deliberate on the review of the 1999 Constitution.

This he became necessary in view of its importance to the ongoing debate on restructuring in the country.

The governor noted that the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, had earlier briefed members of the forum on the harmonised position of the two houses in the National Assembly.

He, however, disclosed that the forum planned to invite Speaker of the House of Representatives or his representative to come and present the House’s position on the matter during forum’s next meeting

“The information we are having from the House of Representatives is that, the presentation made by Deputy Senate President to the forum is Senate’s position, it is not harmonised.

“So, probably by next week, Oct. 18, the Speaker of the House of Representatives or his representative will come and make his own presentation to us so that we look at it,’’ he said.

He said that the forum had wanted to invite the Conference of Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly so that it could collectively look at what was submitted to better the nation.

The governor said the forum noted that there were so many issues of national interest: the devolution of power, political agitations, taken into consideration in the amendment of the Constitution.

According to Yari, the governors agree that the constitution is being amended for posterity and not for any other interest.

“We are looking at the amendment as very important so that as leaders we can move the country forward.’’

The NGF had earlier in the week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), to facilitate dialogue and develop joint programmes to promote sub-national economic competitiveness in Nigeria.