The Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly has commended the National Assembly for the successful completion of the first step toward the amendment process of the 1999 Constitution.
They noted particularly that the depth of work done would deepen democracy and improve the quality of governance at all levels in the country.
In a statement by the Conference Chairman, Alhaji Ismaila Kamba, the speakers urged the National Assembly to quickly forward the items approved by both chambers to the states for expeditious deliberations and actions by the 36 states Houses of Assembly.
Kamba, who is also the Speaker of Kebbi State House of Assembly, said that since the National Assembly had at different stages of the debates and discussions on the amendment process involved the Conference of Speakers, it should not be difficult for the 36 states legislative houses to vote on the issues and revert back to the National Assembly.
He praised the ingenuity and innovations introduced in the process by the National Assembly during the voting on the issues put forward by the Joint Committee on Constitution Amendment.
Kamba explained that the Conference of Speakers is happy as the National Assembly separated the issues into different Bills, such that it is easy to vote on different issues in a clear manner.
“We will enjoin all our colleagues to borrow a leaf from that in the voting on the amendment to the Constitution. Same procedure can be used by speakers during voting on other thorny and sensitive issues that may come to our respective chambers in the future.
“We are also happy that issues that can help improve governance at all levels, strengthen the judiciary, aid the anti-corruption war of the government, entrench separation of powers, develop the legislature at the state levels and improve the performance of the local government authorities and many important issues have been taken care of in the constitution amendment.
“With this Constitution amendment, the National Assembly has prepared the ground for the emergence of a new Nigeria with a more solid democracy.
“The Speakers are eager to lead other state legislatures to create a better country. The National Assembly should quickly send the amendment documents to us so that we can play our part,” Kamba said. (NAN)