By Igho Akeregha and Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
The Senate yesterday voted on the report of its joint committee on the review of the 1999 constitution and approved financial autonomy for state legislatures, judiciary, and local government areas in the country.

A total of 95 senators out of 109, voted on the report of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bills, 2022.

Senators during voting on the report rejected pension for presiding officers of the legislature.

A total of 34 out of the 88 lawmakers who voted on the particular bill supported it while 53 were against it.

Also rejected were bills to override Presidential veto in Constitution Alteration, and to override Presidential veto in respect of ordinary money bills.
The Senate passed the bill which empowered the National Assembly, and state assemblies to summon President and governors over security matters.

The red chamber turned down a proposal for special seats for women in the legislature but granted powers to states to legislate on railway, airports, and prisons.

It approved independent candidature for election and also gave the nod for the separation of the office of the Attorney-General for the Federation from the Minister of Justice.

The Senate also rejected a bill seeking the inclusion of the value added tax collection in the exclusive legislative list.

The proposed legislation was titled, “Inclusion of Value Added Tax on the Exclusive Legislative List; and for Related Matters.”

A total of 85 senators registered to vote on the bill with 41 voting in support while 44 voted against it.

The bill required two-third of the senators to pass it.

The objective of the bill was to avoid the confusion that will inevitable arise from states passing individual laws in respect of VAT, thereby raising the spectre of multiple taxation and extreme difficulty in the administration of the tax.

The Senate committee believed that there was the need for a single federal legislation to regulate the administration of the VAT nationwide and ensure ease of doing business in Nigeria.

The rejected bills required the mandatory four-fifth (votes of 88 Senators) and a two-thirds majority (votes of 73 Senators) to pass, respectively.

The bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution to provide the procedure for overriding executive veto in respect of money bills seeks to provide for the mode of exercising federal legislative power on money bills before the National Assembly.

While 94 Senators registered to vote on the bill to override a presidential veto in constitutional alteration, 79 lawmakers of the chamber voted in support and 15 against it. The bill fell short of the needed 88 votes (four-fifth requirement) to pass.

On the bill to override a presidential veto in respect of money bills, out of a total of 84 registered Senators, 44 voted in support, and 39 against the bill. The bill also fell short of the required two-thirds requirement (73 Senators) to pass.

In addition, the Senate rejected bills to provide for the removal of presiding officers of the Legislature; and to Change the name of Barikin Ladi Local Government Area in Plateau State to “Gwol” Local Government Area.
The Senate in all passed a total of 47 bills out of the 68 considered during voting and rejected 21.
President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, while setting the tone for voting on the bills, explained that only bills which enjoyed passage in both chambers would be transmitted to the State Houses of Assemblies for concurrence.

According to him, any bill which fails to pass in the Senate or House of Representatives during voting automatically stands rejected by the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, despite the lobby by the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, the Senate failed to provide for special seats for women in the national and state houses of assembly.

The move was already attracting wide acceptance by many Nigerians who described it as a welcomed development.

A Warri-based lawyer, Mr Otome Adamidenyo, informed ThisNigeria that this may just be the beginning of launching Nigeria into the path of true federalism.

•Reps approve Mayor for FCT
The House of Representatives yesterday approved the appointment of a Mayor for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The House approved the request with 245 members voting in favour of the bill in its ongoing electronic voting on the Constitution amendment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 240 members are required to vote in favour of the bill to scale through.

The title of the bill is “a Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for the Office of the Mayor for FCT Administration.’’

Also, 252 members voted in favour of the bill to provide for the appointment of a minister for the FCT.

Meanwhile, the House has voted in favour of the bill to establish the Office of the Attorney–General of the Federation and the State as separate from that of Minister or Commissioner for Justice.

This is to make the office of the Attorney-General independent and insulated from partisanship.

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A total of 289 lawmakers voted in favour of the bill that would require the president and governors to submit the names of nominees for appointments as ministers or commissioners within 30 days of taking office.

This is to enable speedy confirmation by the Senate or Houses of Assembly.

The House also voted to grant Presiding Officers of the National Assembly membership of the National Security Council.

The Bill is titled: “a Bill for an Act to Alter the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to include Presiding Officers of the National Assembly in the Membership of the National Security Council