From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Lawyers in Defence of Human Rights, has said that the legal background of the deputy speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, will aid the constitutional reforms of the 10th assembly.
The group, in a statement jointly signed by Obinna Nwabueze, Sebastian Anumege, FC Jones and Durukweaku, expressed optimism that Kalu, who will double as the Chairman, Special Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution Review, will leverage his experience as a lawyer to ensure that the next constitution alteration exercise records a resounding success.
According to the group, the deputy speaker, as a member of the ninth assembly, has shown capacity in the discharge of his duties. It noted that one of Kalu’s bills in the 9th House, which sought to alter the 1999 Constitution to delete the item “prisons” in the Exclusive Legislative List and redesignate it as “Correctional Services” in the Concurrent Legislative List; was assented to by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Since the return of democratic rule, there has been an attempt by various Assemblies to amend the constitution. While the exercise by the legislative arm was futile in past assemblies, however, remarkable success was achieved by the parliament under the leadership of Former Senate President Ahmed Lawan and Former Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.
“The 9th National Assembly had while assuming office in June 2019, promised to repeal the offending provisions encumbering the country’s democracy by reworking and giving Nigerians a progressive document. Through the constitutional review process, the Senate and House of Representatives sought to restructure the government to make it more effective.
“While laudable strides were made by the lawmakers in the 9th Assembly, with some of the bills assented to by former President Muhammadu Buhari, the 10th Assembly is expected to revisit the rejected bills and more proposals that will resurface.
“We are optimistic that the Deputy Speaker, Kalu who will double as the Chairman, Special Ad hoc Committee on Constitution Review, will do a good job in ensuring that the 10th assembly will surpass the gains made by the 9th House on constitutional reforms.”