From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives has said it would accommodate every interest, as well as ensure that the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution ( as amended) was inclusive.
The Deputy chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Philip Agbese, while speaking with journalists, on Friday, in Abuja, said the Constitution Review panel, which is led by the deputy speaker, Benjamin Kalu, would ensure the exercise is holistic.
Agbese, who was recently named the Spokesperson of the House Committee on Constitution Review, said the ongoing Constitution alteration would the yearning of majority of Nigerians.
According to him, “we are going to carry everyone along. Aside receiving memoranda from organizations, agencies of government, individuals and various interest groups, another jurisdiction of this Committee would be to create a forum for relevant stakeholders and members of the public to make their inputs to the constitution review process. This we shall be doing through public hearing and continuous citizens engagements across the board.
“We shall also build a robust and collaborative relationship with the Nigerian Senate and the 36 States Houses of Assembly, whose resolutions are part of the legislative journey to the reviewed document. This is to reduce or totally eradicate the usual bottleneck or noncompliance that characterised other constitution review exercises in the past.
“Also, in this course, we shall be liaising with relevant government agencies, both the executive and judicial bodies, state governments, women groups, academics, civil society organizations, labour unions, professional bodies, ethnic nationalities, Nigerians in the Diaspora, Diplomats and the general public, in receiving memoranda and getting them involved in making necessary inputs, while the process lasts.
“With the arrays of stakeholders we have enumerated and how the Chairman is coordinating the process, I’m sure there won’t be any section or interest that would be left out, at the end of the day.”
The lawmaker assured that the Committee would assiduously to ensure that it meets its 24-month target to complete the constitution alteration exercise.