The House Committee on the Review of the Constitution has engage the services of nine consultants to offer expertise advice on how the 1999 Constitution will be reviewed. Deputy Speaker to the house, Benjamin Kalu, who double as the committee chairman made this known through a statement yesterday in Abuja. In his statement, “In order to pass the constitution amendments in record time, I am pleased to announce to you that a nine-man technical team of consultants has been appointed to provide expert input and insights to the committee’s work.
He explained, “It is pertinent to note that the selection of the technical team was purely based on merit, expertise and personal capacity”.
The deputy speaker said the term of reference for the team will be the responsibility that will include; developing a reasonable time bound work-plan for the committee’s activities in liaison with the committee’s secretariat.
Mr Kalu added that his team is also expected to advise the committee on the methodology to adopt in carrying out consultations with stakeholders and interest groups and fine-tune the silent points that may arise there from.
According to him, the consultants are to collate, study, analyse and asses all memoranda received from the public and to bring out the issues raised in a structured manner.
His statement partly reads, “Among others, they are to analyze and present the data collected in a simple, concise and organized manner for the committee’s deliberations and consideration to assist in ultimately taking critical and informed decisions.
“Conduct research on bills/measures and policies referred to the committee and advise on their viability and likely consequences on proposed constitutional alterations.
“Advice the committee to arrive at decisions that are fair to all and in accordance with the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy,” he said.
Meanwhile, the consultants include the following; Mamman Osuman, Prof. Nuhu Jamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Chris Uche, another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, all lead by the Coordinating Consultant, Clement Nwankwo.
Others are Seni Adio, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Samson Osagie, Prof. Joy Ezeilo, and Prof. Ladi Hammalia. (NAN)
