President Jonathan Sues Senate, House of Reps over Constitution Amendments
Category: Nigerian National News
He wrote in conclusion:
Following this resolve by the National Assembly to pass the amended constitution into law without the signature of the president, the federal government has instituted a suit at the Supreme Court to nullify the proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution.
The Nigerian Senate after amending the 1999 Constitution is seeking the signature of the outgoing president, Goodluck Jonathan to pass the amended constitution into law. Part of the amended constitution would cut down some powers bestowed on the executive arm of Government while more power would be given to the legislature and judiciary.
If passed into law, some decisions and actions of the president would have to pass through National Assembly before they can executed and some decisions of the National Assembly also will require the consent of the office of the president.
If passed into law, some decisions and actions of the president would have to pass through National Assembly before they can executed and some decisions of the National Assembly also will require the consent of the office of the president.
President Goodluck Jonathan dismayed at this proposal by the National Assembly refused to sign the amended constitution and wrote a 7-page letter to the Senate explaining
his reason for declining their request to sign the amended document into law.
He wrote in conclusion:
"In view of the foregoing and absence of credible evidence that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Fourth Alteration) Act 2015 satisfied the strict requirements of Section 9(3) of the 1999 Constitution, it will be unconstitutional for me to assent to it. I therefore withhold my assent and accordingly remit Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Fourth Alteration) Act 2015 to the Senate /House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”The National Assembly however rebuffed the presidents refusal to sign the amended constitution into law, giving the president 30 days to sign the document or it would override his veto and pass the amended constitution into law without the president's signature.
Following this resolve by the National Assembly to pass the amended constitution into law without the signature of the president, the federal government has instituted a suit at the Supreme Court to nullify the proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution.
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