Team Lobbies Osun Assembly Over Constitutional Amendment

By Israel Afolabi

The State of Osun House of Assembly will soon come up with a position regarding the proposed constitutional amendment by the National Assembly.

The speaker of the State parliament, Hon. Najeem Salaam stated this at the Assembly complex while addressing the plenary in which a group called Friends of Democracy in Nigeria led by Senator Olorunnibe Mamora was received recently.

The speaker who was represented by the deputy speaker Hon. Akintunde Adegboye in his opening remarks appreciated the friends of Democracy in Nigeria team for their advocacy visit to the state Assembly.

Adegboye said, we are here to prolong the life of Democracy in our country, Nigeria.

However, in his remarks, the leader of the team, Senator Mamora commended the lawmakers for the audience granted the team.

Mamora who is the former speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly solicited for the cooperation of Osun Assembly for the constitutional amendment proposed by the National Assembly.

According to him, “I am very impressed with reception of the House of Assembly and by their legislative experience during the interactive session”.

“We needs to deeply strengthen those institutions for our democracy to have stand in Nigeria”, he added.

He commended the State of Osun House of Assembly for their legislative experience and exposure in the entire south west.

He gave kudos to governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for introducing parliamentary system of governance in Local Government in other to reduce the cost of governance in the state.

He urged the Assembly to have common goal towards the proposed constitutional amendment for the future of the Country.

He said Nineteen (19) clauses bill is going through process in the amendment.

In his goodwill message, the former member House of Representative Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele thanks the honourable members for their reception. Hon Bamidele said these amendments will enhance budget and governance process and strengthen government Institutions.

He added that it will strengthen Electoral System and Judicial System as well.

According to him, “this amendment will give strength to Local Government Autonomy and key Accountability institution in the Country”.

“For each item/clause to be successfully amended, it will require a simple majority in at least 24 out of the 36 States Houses of Assembly, while the States Houses of Assemblies has the constitutional mandate to vote on the amendments”. He added.

In their various reactions the honourable members commended the team for their advocacy visit to Osun. “They said the House of Assembly will soon come up with its position on the constitution amendment”.