The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Right Honourable (Pastor) Kola Oluwawole, has expressed optimism that the current effort to review the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will be successful.
According to a statement by his Special Assistant (Media), Stephen Gbadamosi, Oluwawole made this assertion in an interview with journalists at the sideline of the National Assembly Joint Working Retreat of the Senate, House of Representative and Speakers of the 36 State Houses of Assembly on the Review of the 1999 Constitution held at Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos State, at the weekend.
The Ekiti House Speaker noted that rare commitment was put into the exercise by leaders of the various legislative organs of the nation.
He highlighted the key areas being amended to include “composition of members of council of states, state creation and boundary adjustment, local government affairs, devotion of powers and pensions for presiding officers of the legislature.
“Others are political party and electoral matters, replacement of presidential or governorship candidates who die before the completion election, among others.”
Oluwawole said there was no doubt that the result of the exercise would address some of the issues that have been bedeviling the progress of the nation.
“I particularly praise the inclusiveness mode the exercise is taking. The leaders are passionate and totally committed to the exercise. And I must say that a number of issues that have been causing agitations and which seem to be holding the nation back in terms of development will be addressed in the review. The exercise means well for the country.
“And I am seizing this opportunity to appeal to Nigerians to support the efforts of the leadership to make this review a reality this time around,” he said.
The retreat was declared open by Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, while Deputy Senate President and chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Right Honourable Lasun Yusuf; and the chairman of Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly and Speaker of Kebbi State House of Assembly, Right Honourable Abdulmumin Ismaila Kamba, made remarks.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
