A bill seeking to remove the President and governors’ authority to declare a new session of the National and State Houses of Assembly was among 39 proposed constitutional amendments that passed the second reading in the House of Representatives.
Currently, the 1999 Constitution gives the President and governors the power to issue proclamations that must be read by the Clerks of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly before newly elected lawmakers can begin legislative duties. Without this proclamation, the legislative arms of government cannot function, affecting the ability of the executive to operate constitutionally.
Among the other bills that advanced without debate was one proposing electoral reforms to ensure that all court cases related to elections are resolved before winners take office.
Other key bills included proposals for creating state police, reserving special legislative seats for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), and providing representation for special interest groups.
House Leader Julius Ihonvbere moved for the suspension of House rules to allow all the bills to be taken together for a second reading. There was no objection, and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, granted permission for the motion to proceed.
The bills were grouped into six categories:
- Electoral Matters (13 bills)
- Judicial Reforms (10 bills)
- Legislative Matters (7 bills)
- Inclusive Governance (3 bills)
- Security Reforms (1 bill)
- Other Reforms (5 bills)
One significant bill, sponsored by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to make it mandatory for the President or a governor to follow the recommendations of the National Judicial Council (NJC) before removing a head of a court.
Another proposal aims to establish an Ecclesiastical Court of Appeal at the federal and state levels, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Additionally, a separate bill proposes making the Court of Appeal the final authority for disputes related to governorship and legislative elections.
Further electoral reform bills seek to regulate election timelines, require lawmakers to resign before defecting from their political parties, and expand the Court of Appeal’s jurisdiction to handle governorship and deputy governorship election petitions.
Some bills propose giving the National Assembly authority to adjust election tribunal timelines and enforce the mandatory resignation of party executives seeking elective positions.
Another significant amendment aims to synchronize all elections—including presidential, governorship, National Assembly, and State House of Assembly elections—to take place on the same day, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) coordinating with the National Assembly to set the date.
