The National Assembly yesterday transmitted 44 constitution alteration bills to the state houses of assembly for concurrence.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr Olatunde Ojo Amos, distributed the copies of the bills to clerks of the state legislatures at a ceremony in Abuja.
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The federal lawmakers had earlier this month voted on 68 bills aimed at amending the 1999 Constitution, after which 44 were approved by both chambers.
A simple majority of votes is required in at least two-thirds of state assemblies and the amendments that sail through would be sent to the president for assent.
The clerk said the transmission complied with Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He said, “These bills deal with major issues on developments, governance, politics and the economy.
“It touches on issues which include the abrogation of the state joint local government account, financial independence of state legislatures and judiciary in compliance with legislative autonomy, timelines for civil and criminal cases.
“With the transmission of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bills, 2022, it must be made clear and unambiguous that the 9th National Assembly has started the process of restructuring within the polity.
“The fact of the matter is that powers are being shared enthusiastically and drastically in the sense that the states are now empowered to generate and distribute electricity, construct and own railways, airports and correctional centres.
“We are now going to have financial autonomy at the state judiciary and the local layer of government.
“The Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation, even at the various state levels will now be separated, ditto for the Office of the Accountant General.
“You will agree with me that a strengthened local government will attract fundamental changes with more professionals as we have created a nursery school where people will learn the ropes of politics and governance, where they will move up the ladder of politics so that there will be no political neophytes.
“All stakeholders and drivers of pragmatic implementation of these alterations are hereby urged to put on the garment of fervent patriotism to make things work accordingly.”
The chairperson of the Forum of Clerks, who is also the Clerk to the Delta State House of Assembly, Lyna Ocholor, assured that necessary legislative action would be taken on the bills.
