The House of Representatives has rejected a Bill seeking a principle of rotation for the offices of the President and Vice President among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and an amendment to the 1999 Constitution to strip the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of its powers to register and regulate political parties.
The Bill, co-sponsored by Speaker of the House Abbas Tajudeen and Francis Waive, aimed at transferring the powers to the Office of the Registrar-General of Political Parties. It was presented for second reading but was voted down during the plenary conducted by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu.
The House also rejected another constitution amendment Bill, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, seeking to establish the principle of rotation for the offices of the president and vice president among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones— North-Central, North-East, North-West, South-East, South-South, and South-West.
Other rejected Bills included one to alter the constitution to provide for the establishment, independence and functions of the Offices of State Auditors-General for Local Governments and the Federal Capital Territory Area Councils.
The Bill, sponsored by Julius Ihonvbere, seeks to strengthen fiscal oversight, promote accountability and enhance good governance at the grassroots level.
Another Bill, sponsored by Ihonvbere, proposing to increase the number of judges in the Federal High Court to not fewer than 100, to include admiralty matters, shipping and navigation on the River Niger, River Benue and their tributaries, all federal ports, and carriage by sea was also rejected.
A Bill seeking to empower the National Judicial Council, NJC, in collaboration with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, to fix and review the salaries, allowances and other emoluments of judicial officers and judiciary staff was also rejected.
Similarly, a Bill sponsored by Francis Waive, proposing the creation of Ughelli East Local Government Area in Delta State, also didn’t make it, however, the Speaker directed the Committee on Rules and Business to list the motion for re-presentation on the order paper for the next legislative day.
