The House of Representatives in Nigeria on Tuesday, passed a significant bill related to independent candidacy in the country’s elections.
This bill, known as the constitution alteration bill No. 58, was officially approved and is now law.
Additionally, another crucial bill was passed by the House. This bill aimed to include the presiding officers of the National Assembly as members of the National Security Council (NSC).
To accomplish this, the bill will modify the third schedule of the principal act by inserting paragraph (bb) and (ba) into the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 46.
This modification will allow the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to join the National Security Council.
Following the successful passage of these bills, the House directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to transmit them to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent.
Additionally, the House called upon the State Houses of Assembly in Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Plateau, and Taraba to provide their input on the bills.
This decision was made after the adoption of a motion put forward by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Wase, Minority Leader Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Hon. Babajimi Benson, and 76 other lawmakers.
The motion reminded the House that on May 3, 2023, the Clerk to the National Assembly had been instructed to transmit the Constitution, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 47 to the President for assent, as it fulfilled the requirements of Section 9(2) of the Constitution.
The motion also emphasized the obligation of the Houses of Assembly in Gombe, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Plateau, and Taraba to submit their resolutions in compliance with the Constitution.
In line with this, the Gombe State House of Assembly had already forwarded its resolution.
Consequently, it was determined that with the approval of the Gombe State House of Assembly, the Constitution, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill Nos. 46 (Membership of the National Security Council to include Presiding Officers of the National Assembly), 2023, and 58 (Independent Candidacy), 2023 had satisfied the provisions outlined in Section 9(2) of the Constitution and could proceed to be enacted.