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Rep Dismisses Reason For Jonathan’s Refusal To Amend Constitution

The House of Representatives has responded to President Goodluck Jonathan on the reasons he cited for withholding his assent to the Constitution alteration Bill. This … Continue reading Rep Dismisses Reason For Jonathan’s Refusal To Amend Constitution


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ConstitutionThe House of Representatives has responded to President Goodluck Jonathan on the reasons he cited for withholding his assent to the Constitution alteration Bill.

This is coming a day after President Jonathan dragged the National Assembly to the Supreme Court, asking the apex court to nullify the proposed amendments.

President Jonathan had argued that not less than four-fifth majority members of each house of the National Assembly was required to amend the Constitution and demanded that evidence be made available to show this was complied with.

Briefing journalists in the National Assembly, the House Minority Whip, Samson Osagie, said that the four-fifth requirement was met, as evidenced in the votes and proceedings of July 24, 2013.

Osagie also explained why the National Assembly amended section 58 of the Constitution which looks at the President’s failure to assent to a bill passed by the National Assembly.

President Jonathan had written to the Senate, refusing to give assent to some sections of the Nigerian Constitution amended by the National Assembly.

President Jonathan’s letter to the National Assembly detailed the sections which he refused to approve.

In the letter read by the Senate President, President Jonathan rejected the alteration of section nine of the Constitution which removes the approval of the President in the process of constitution amendment.

President Jonathan also rejected the amendment which separated the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation from the Minister of Justice and the Attorney-General from the Commissioner for Justice in the states of the Federation.