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Senate to refer amendment bills to state assemblies tomorrow

By Azimazi Momoh Jimoh and Adamu Abuh, Abuja
25 July 2017   |   4:33 am
The Senate will tomorrow conclude the clause-by-clause consideration of proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution and refer them to State Houses of Assembly for concurrence.

The Senate during a plenary

• Youth groups plan rally to push for inclusion in governance
• Laud Dogara over assurance on Not Too Young To Run Bill passage

The Senate will tomorrow conclude the clause-by-clause consideration of proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution and refer them to State Houses of Assembly for concurrence.

The same is expected to be done in the House of Representatives with hopes that the document would sail through as it had been agreed upon by both chambers at a retreat held in Lagos few days ago.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has, however, applauded the dedication of the lawmakers in both chambers of the parliament to the production of the document, which is about to be adopted as the reviewed constitution for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In a statement issued by his media office yesterday, Saraki described the process that led to the production of the document as “another promise kept” by the Eighth National Assembly.

The statement said, among others: “You will recall that when we first came into office, I made a promise that we will amend the constitution to reflect new realities that have arisen. Now, we are doing just that. With just under two years left for this tenure, we are wrapping up this process, which will then be transmitted to the State Assemblies for concurrence.

“We will continue to ensure that all the promises that we have made to the Nigerian people will be kept. It is also our hope that we can get this amendments sent to the state assemblies quickly so that the new amendments can take effect by the New Year and well-clear of the political electioneering season.

“This is the first time ever that we are concluding the constitution amendment process long before the election year so that people can objectively participate in the process without looking at the partisan benefits.”

In another development, a Not Too Young To Run (NTYTR) Movement, consisting of no fewer than 50 youth groups from across the country, has planned to stage a peaceful rally today aimed at pushing for the inclusion of the youths within the age of 25 and 30 in the governance of the country.

The Guardian learnt that the Movement, which insisted that the youths within the age range of 25 to 30 years be allowed to contest for elective positions for the seat of the Presidency, National Assembly, governorship and state Houses of Assembly in the ongoing constitution review exercise, has planned to storm the National Assembly complex to press home their demand.

In a statement by Cynthia Mbamalu, the group said that it was pleased by the statement credited to House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, reaffirming the commitment of the House to include the provision of the Not Too Young to Run Bill in the constitution review exercise.

The group noted: “As a movement, we are determined in our quest for a true people’s constitution anchored on the principles of inclusion, equality and justice. We, therefore, invite citizens to join us today (July 25, 2017) for the National Day of Action on Not Too Young To Run as we engage our legislators and press home our demand ahead of the clause-by-clause voting on new amendments to the constitution.”

The Movement, which planned to converge at the Unity Fountain in Abuja by 8:00 a.m., enjoined the lawmakers to be guided by good conscience, equity and justice in view of the fact that the interests of the people must prevail.

It thereby urged the teeming population of the country’s youths to participate in the march to mobilise legislators to vote YES for the proposed amendment on Not Too Young To Run, which “is a right and not a privilege.”

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