Constitution Review: Committee ‘ll be guided by ethical standards – Sen. Omo-Agege

Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege says the Senate Committee on Review of 1999 Constitution will apply ethical standards, best legislative practices, integrity and open mindedness in reviewing the constitution.

Omo-Agege said this on Thursday in Abuja at the public hearing of the committee, which also had the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, some heads of parastatals and prominent Nigerians in attendance.

According to him, the committee conducted zonal public hearing in 12 locations across the six geo-political zones of the country, where members heard the views of many Nigerians and memoranda submitted.

He said the committee had also received a broad range of issues about the review of the constitution, studied them and engaged a selected group of competent consultants to further examine the recommendations from the report of the 2014 national conference.

Omo-Agege said the committee had also revisited some of the bills in the past constitution amendment exercises which did not pass the hurdles of concurrence with the House of Representatives, ratification by state Houses of Assembly and Presidential assent.

He added that “we have painstakingly re-examined those bills and reintroduced some of the proposals deemed beneficiary to our people.

“We are looking at them to determine at what stage of the process they fell off the list and reasons thereof, with a view to improving on them to suit the demands of our time and ensure that they do not suffer the same fate,” he said.

He further said that some people had advocated for a new constitution rather than amending the one on ground, adding that all opinions toward the constitution would be respected.

He explained that the constitution review would be conducted in accordance with extant legal order provided by the 1999 Constitution, specifically with the provision of Section 9.

He, therefore, urged Nigerians present at the public hearing to abide by the standards, irrespective of political affiliation while making their contributions.

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Bello, urged Nigerians present at the public hearing of the constitution review to be guided by the principle of national unity.

Bello urged them to make the best opportunity to strengthen the nation’s common values.

It was reported that areas which the committee is specifically looking at are gender equity/increased participation of women and vulnerable groups in governance.

Others are: the Federal Structure in governance, devolution of power, local government administration and local government autonomy.

Some others are: public revenue, fiscal federalism, revenue allocation, constitutional provision for establishment of state police and judicial reform.