Constitution Review: Delta Assembly Begins Legislative Process on Nigeria’s Constitution ‘Fifth Alteration Bill’

Delta State House of Assembly on Monday, 18th July 2022, began legislative action on the review of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 Fifth Alteration Bill.

To kick start the process, the Speaker, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori led Members and selected Management Staff of the Assembly on a two day Retreat to critically examine the bill, ahead of deliberations on the floor of the House.

In his opening remarks, the Speaker, Sheriff Oborevwori, said the Retreat was to set in motion, the legislative process that will culminate in the resolution of the House towards the Fifth Alteration of the 1999 Constitution.

Rt Hon Oborevwori, explained that the two chambers of the National Assembly, had in the review, considered sixty eight amendments in the 5th Alteration Bill, adopted forty four of them, which were transmitted to the 36 States’ Houses of Assembly for further legislative actions.

Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori

“My dependable Colleagues, it is indeed a great pleasure for me and the leadership of the Seventh Assembly to be part of history in the Fifth Alteration of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

“It is also my pleasure to welcome you all to this very vital Retreat put together by the leadership of the House to enable us set in motion the legislative process that will culminate in the resolution of the House towards the Fifth Alteration of the 1999 Constitution”.

“The National Assembly, that is, the Senate and the House of Representatives, had in review of the 1999 constitution considered 68 (Fifth Alteration) Bills but passed only 44 of them. These 44 Bills have been transmitted to the 36 States’ Houses of Assembly for further legislative actions”, Oborevwori stated.

The Speaker who is the PDP gubernatorial candidate for the 2023 general elections, pointed out that it was therefore a duty to carry out necessary legislative processes required by the Delta State Assembly on the bill and transmit back to the National Assembly.

According to him, the exercise is in compliance with Section 9 subsection 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as Altered.

Rt Hon Oborevwori stated that the 44 amendments passed by both Chambers of the National Assembly dealt specifically with issues of development, governance, politics and the economy, stressing that more powers will devolved to the States in the journey to true federalism.

“The exercise we are commencing today is in compliance with Section 9 subsection (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Altered).

“Expectedly, these 44 Bills passed by both Chambers of the National Assembly deal specifically with issues of development, governance, politics and the economy. That means, more powers will devolve to the States in the journey to true federalism.

“We therefore have a duty to carry out necessary legislative processes required for the bills to be considered and to transmit back to the National Assembly, our position on the 44 Bills”, he noted.

The Speaker emphasized that the assignment deserves diligence and commitment, and urged Members to use the opportunity to showcase the vibrancy of the Delta State House of Assembly.

Oborevwori said there was a strong need to build consensus on the Constitutional issues, stating that they must get it right for the benefit of the people and for the unity of the country.

The Speaker disclosed that seasoned and time- tested Resource Persons were assembled to walk them through the 44 Bills in the course of the Retreat, even as he urged members to see it as an opportunity to acquire fresh knowledge and expand their horizons.

“The leadership of the House has assembled seasoned and time- tested resource persons to walk us through the 44 Bills in the course of this Retreat. I urge members to see this as an opportunity to acquire fresh knowledge and expand our horizon. We are being presented with a chance to make history. Let us therefore seize the moment.

“I must emphasize that an assignment of this magnitude deserves diligence and commitment. So, as we embark on this very important legislative duty, let us use this opportunity to showcase the vibrancy of the Delta State House of Assembly to build consensus on constitutional issues that will impact the lives of the people of our great country. We must get it right for the benefit of our people and the unity of our country.

“The leadership of the House has assembled seasoned and time- tested resource persons to walk us through the 44 Bills in the course of this Retreat. I urge members to see this as an opportunity to acquire fresh knowledge and expand our horizon. We are being presented with a chance to make history. Let us therefore seize the moment”, Oborevwori emphasized.

Lyna Ocholor

The Clerk of the House, Mrs Lyna Ocholor, recalled when the leadership of the National Assembly invited Clerks of the 36 States Houses of Assembly in the country for discourse on the Alteration Bill and directed immediate attention on it at their various states.

Mrs Ocholor stated that they were enjoined to look into the 44 amendments for further legislative actions.

She disclosed that the three guest speakers at the retreat participated actively in the exercise, which make them eminently qualified to handle the deliberations and take them through to enable them vote on the bills.

The retreat later entered into technical sessions.