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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
House of Representatives has landed President Muhammadu Buhari for assenting to 16 constitution alteration bills, passed recently by National Assembly and states houses of assembly.
The House say the legislations, which moved railway and electricity to the concurrent legislative list, granted financial autonomy to state judiciary and legislature, will enhance the federal structure of the country.
The National Assembly had last year transmitted 34 constitution alteration to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent. However, President Buhari, on Friday assented to 16 of the bills, including the bills moving electricity and railway from the exclusive to concurrent legislative list among others.
The deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, in a statement, expressed delight that the financial autonomy law, will help to strengthen the legislature and judiciary at the state levels.
Wase, who is also the co- chairman of the Special Ad-hoc Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution ( as amended), equally lauded members of the 9th National Assembly for their efforts in ensuring the passage of the constitution alteration bills.
According to him , “Fifth Alterations Bills No. 6, 7, 16, and 17 deals with devolution of powers/promoting true Federalism and also strengthening of State Houses of Assembly and Judiciary”
Wase explained that that the bill number 6 “seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for the financial independence of State Houses of Assembly and State Judiciary; and for related matters.”
He added that bills number 16 and 17 seeks ” to move the item ‘railways’ from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List ” and ” allow States generate, transmit and distribute electricity in areas covered by the national grid; and for related matters”, respectively.
