ABUJA — THE Senate, Wednesday, said that there will be no of restriction in the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution.
Speaking with journalists, Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Publicity, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP, Abia South) assured Nigerians that the exercise would be an all-inclusive constitution for the running of the country, adding that the process will be open debates and discussions to ensure that the amendment will be acceptable.
Abaribe also said the Senate would adjourn next week for a week to enable the lawmakers travel to their constituencies, brainstorm with their constituents during the zonal public hearing.
The Senate spokesperson who disclosed that even issues relating to religion could be raised during the public hearing, said: ”No subject would be out of bound as Nigerians are free to express their views on every subject within the purview of the 1999 Constitution.
“The essence is to give room to all shades of opinions. The reason is to make a constitution that would be as comprehensive, wide and detailed as possible. There would be no room for referendum, the National Assembly’s position on the issue was guided by the provisions of the constitution.
“The one-week break became essential to give room to all shades of opinions from the various constituents. The senators would have the opportunity of interacting with their constituents at two levels, namely, the state and zonal.”
On PIB
On what caused the delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry
Bill (PIB), Abaribe who noted that the upper chamber was not in a hurry
to pass the bill, said: “Nobody should become worried. We are not in a
hurry to pass the bill which is going to make a fundamental change in
how business is being done in the oil sector.“The worry over the seeming delay is understandable, but we are working on the bill in the National Assembly and it shall soon be passed into law.”
Meanwhile, Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, while reacting to the re-election of President of the United States of America, USA, Mr Barack Obama, said it was hoped that Africa would receive better attention in his second term than it got in the first.
