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| senate president: David Mark |
The Senate yesterday rejected a
proposal by its ad hoc committee on the review of the 1999 constitution for a
six-year single term for president and state governors.
If approved,
this would have barred President Goodluck Jonathan and the 36 state from
re-contesting in the 2015 general elections.
However, 86 Senators yesterday voted against the proposal, 14 in support while one senator abstained.
Senators also voted down financial autonomy for local governments which would have removed the control of council funds by governors.
Also rejected is a mayoral status for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Senators also voted 57 to 39 votes against the scrapping of the office of minister for the FCT. Each clause needs two-thirds of the 109 senators to pass.
Similarly, attempts to separate the office of the Attorney General and that of Minister of Justice failed when 62 Senators voted against and 35 for.
The new amendments also bar the president from signing it into law in clause 2 which amended section 9 but provides for a national referendum to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) where Nigerians will vote to obtain a simple majority in any future constitutional amendment. The section was approved by 83 Senators, 3 voted against while one abstained.
Eighty six senators voted to grant life pension to all former senate president and their deputies and Speakers of the House of Representatives and their deputies and 13 voted against.
Similarly, the Senators also scrapped the N18,500 minimum wage by removing wages from the exclusive legislative list and added it to the list of items on the concurrent legislative list to allow each state to determine its own minimum wage.
In the same vein, each State will now have its own labour union which tactically weakens the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) as the nation umbrella of all labour unions in Nigeria.
The States Houses of Assembly have also been put on the first line charge funding from the consolidated revenue fund thereby granting them financial autonomy.
However, the proposal to allow states establish and own prisons was rejected. However, states were disallowed from constructing, owning maintaining and administer.
In the same vein, attempt to remove the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Land Use Act from the constitution was overwhelmingly rejected. States Houses of Assemblies have also been allowed to legislate on road safety and stamp duties.
Speaking after the votes were concluded, Senate President David Mark said the upper legislative chamber was done with the constitution amendment and will set up a conference committee that will meet with that of the House of Representatives to harmonize possible areas of differences.
However, 86 Senators yesterday voted against the proposal, 14 in support while one senator abstained.
Senators also voted down financial autonomy for local governments which would have removed the control of council funds by governors.
Also rejected is a mayoral status for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Senators also voted 57 to 39 votes against the scrapping of the office of minister for the FCT. Each clause needs two-thirds of the 109 senators to pass.
Similarly, attempts to separate the office of the Attorney General and that of Minister of Justice failed when 62 Senators voted against and 35 for.
The new amendments also bar the president from signing it into law in clause 2 which amended section 9 but provides for a national referendum to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) where Nigerians will vote to obtain a simple majority in any future constitutional amendment. The section was approved by 83 Senators, 3 voted against while one abstained.
Eighty six senators voted to grant life pension to all former senate president and their deputies and Speakers of the House of Representatives and their deputies and 13 voted against.
Similarly, the Senators also scrapped the N18,500 minimum wage by removing wages from the exclusive legislative list and added it to the list of items on the concurrent legislative list to allow each state to determine its own minimum wage.
In the same vein, each State will now have its own labour union which tactically weakens the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) as the nation umbrella of all labour unions in Nigeria.
The States Houses of Assembly have also been put on the first line charge funding from the consolidated revenue fund thereby granting them financial autonomy.
However, the proposal to allow states establish and own prisons was rejected. However, states were disallowed from constructing, owning maintaining and administer.
In the same vein, attempt to remove the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Land Use Act from the constitution was overwhelmingly rejected. States Houses of Assemblies have also been allowed to legislate on road safety and stamp duties.
Speaking after the votes were concluded, Senate President David Mark said the upper legislative chamber was done with the constitution amendment and will set up a conference committee that will meet with that of the House of Representatives to harmonize possible areas of differences.
Culled from DAILY TRUST
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