Dogara To Brief Governors On Constitution Amendment

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has been requested to appear at The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) next week to submit the lower Chamber’s position to the forum to enable for a decision on the issue of constitution amendment for the country. The House of Representatives has urged the governors to disregard the presentation made on behalf of the two chambers by the Senate to the forum for consideration.

Specifically, the parliament, it was learnt, has told the NGF that there is yet to be a harmonised position on the review of the constitution by the two houses of the National Assembly, a situation that has necessitated the governors’ request.

Chairman of NGF and Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, who disclosed this after an emergency meeting on Wednesday night said that the forum was set to “do something” on the issue for posterity and in view of the spate of agitations in the country.

Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, which lasted till midnight, Yari said, “ The meeting is just one item agenda, that is the review of Nigeria constitution. If you can remember last time, the Deputy Senate President was here with us to brief us on the harmonized position of the two houses for the task schedule of the amendment of the Nigeria constitution. Because of its importance, we decided to hold this extra ordinary meeting so that we could deliberate.

“We had actually wanted to invite the Conference of Speakers so that we can collectively look at what was submitted for the betterment of the nation. As we agree the constitution is being amended for posterity and not for any other interest.“Therefore, the information we are having from the House of Representatives is that the position is Senate position, it is not harmonized.

“So, probably by next week, that is on the 18th, the Speaker of the House of Representatives or his representative will come and make his own presentation to us so that we look at to.

“By the way, there are so many issues of national interest, devolution of power, political agitations were not taken into considerations in that amendment.
“We as governors we are looking as important so that will be taken as interest of the nation as leaders so that we can move the country forward.”