President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has said the 10th National Assembly will produce a Constitution that is cognisant of the collective aspirations of Nigerians; shape, unite and accelerate the development of the country.
He gave the assurance in his remarks at the beginning of a retreat of the House of Representatives committee on the review of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria organised by Policy and Legal Advocacy Center (PLAC) and United Kingdom International Development in Ikot Expene, Akwa Ibom State.
The senate president urged the federal lawmakers to be thorough in the ongoing review of the constitution, stressing that every bill and proposal must receive the needed consideration.
He said: “I believe that at the end of the day, the senate and the House of Representatives will create a blueprint that guides us towards a more united and prosperous Nigeria. This journey has just begun in this retreat. So, ladies and gentlemen, the challenges before us are significant, but so are the opportunities.
“This opportunity is to ensure that the bills, all bills we consider and comprehend are fair, reflective of the aspiration of the Nigerian people. We must take into account the diverse perspectives and experiences that make up our great nation. By doing so, we lay a solid foundation for a constitution that truly represents the hope and dreams of every single Nigerian alive.”
In his address, Deputy Speaker of the House and Chairman of its Committee on Constitution Review, Hon. Benjamin Kalu disclosed that a total of 305 proposals from Nigerians and 112 bills on various national issues are before the Committee of the House for consideration in the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Kalu highlighted the areas of top priority in the review process.
He said the areas included local govt autonomy, judiciary, electoral matters, state police, gender, human right issues among others which had been shared to various experts to handle.
The Deputy Speaker explained that the amendment of the Constitution is imperative to conform to the wishes of Nigerians and to also meet up with the present economic realities.