Speaking during the inaugural ceremony at the Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, Hon. Abbas said the House has set streamlining and improving the constitutional reform process as the cardinal objective of the Committee.
The Speaker stated that the House is already working on a Constitution Alteration Procedure Bill to provide a framework and a timeline for the passage of Constitution alteration bills by the National Assembly.
The Committee which is chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, and the House Leader, Hon. (Prof) Julius Ihonvbere, as Deputy Chairman, has representatives comprising of one member from each of the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT.
To ensure greater inclusion, Hon. Abbas said the Committee will also have six (6) additional women, one from each of the six geo-political zones, adding that the House Zonal Caucus Leaders have been co-opted in an advisory capacity to advise the Committee on issues relating to their respective zones.
He said the Committee’s secretariat will also include a representative of people living with disabilities to ensure that their concerns are properly accommodated.
“The mandate of the Committee is to receive and consider proposals for alteration of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), create a forum for stakeholders and the public to make inputs into the review process and collaborate with the Senate and the State Houses of Assembly as required by law”, Speaker said.
Hon. Abbas said as the Committee is inaugurated, it is essential to acknowledge the journey Nigeria has embarked upon since the return to democracy in 1999.
“Our country has witnessed significant milestones and challenges alike. Through each phase, our democracy has been tested and is still being challenged. Yet, even after 25 years, it stands resilient, reinforced by our collective belief in the principles of freedom, equality, and justice for all.
“The 1999 Constitution, as the supreme law of the land, has been the grundnorm of our democracy for over two decades. Yet, like any great edifice, it requires periodic assessment and renovation to ensure it meets the changing needs and aspirations of our people”, he said.
Spark News reports that the Senate had last week inaugurated its constitutional review committee chaired by Deputy Senate President, Barau Jubril.
