Constitutional review in Nigeria: A setback

There is nothing to celebrate about the recent constitutional amendment exercise by Nigeria’s National Assembly. Most of the areas amended are passed to perpetuate inequality and the self-serving agenda of the parasitic and unproductive Nigerian political class that survives on manipulation and self-aggrandizement.

Take a look at some of the so-called passed bills: Timeline for president and governors to submit names of ministerial nominees and commissioners, the bill to include presiding officers of the National Assembly in the membership of the National Security Council, State of the Nation, and State of the State Address by the president and governor, the bill to include former heads of the National Assembly in the Council of State, the bill to enhance existing provisions on the formation of political parties, independent candidacy, the bill to correct the error in the definition of the boundary of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, etc.

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I guess that since our return to democracy in Nigeria in 1999, we have never had shameless, selfish rulers like today. These people rejected several important bills such as the ones that seek to improve women’s representation in state and national assemblies. They also rejected the bill aimed at addressing the contentious issue of citizenship. But they have the gut to bring a bill on immunity for them.

To me, most of these bills passed will not address the fundamental nation-building crises of Nigeria. Okay, you passed a bill on free basic education but education remains non-justiciable. So what? None of the passed bills will improve the capacity of the citizens to hold their leaders accountable. 

What we are witnessing today is a shameless tug war between a cabal in the villa and power mongers in the National Assembly. They either obtain a kangaroo court judgement to delete a law that remains an obstacle to achieving sit tight rule or challenge it at another court. The citizens have become mere spectators.

Comrade Bishir Dauda Sabuwar Unguwa Katsina