How 6 Major Amendments Could Transform Our Law: What You Need to Know

Six constitutional amendment bills have scaled second reading in the House of Representatives.

The bills which the Green Chamber considered for second reading during Wednesday’s plenary, included the bills seeking review of the framework for Local Government Administration, death penalty law, Citizenship by Investment, Indigene Status, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and Tourism in Concurrent Legislative List.

The proposed legislations sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu and some other lawmakers, were presented for second reading by the House leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere.

They are, “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Review the Framework for Local Government Administration, Establish a Robust Legal Regime to Strengthen Administrative Efficiency, Promote Transparency, Accountability, and Deepen Democratic Practices at the Local Government Level and for Related Matters (HB. 2121)

They are, “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Review the Framework for Local Government Administration, Establish a Robust Legal Regime to Strengthen Administrative Efficiency, Promote Transparency, Accountability, and Deepen Democratic Practices at the Local Government Level and for Related Matters (HB. 2121), Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to Provide for the Inclusion of Tourism and Tourism Related Matters on the Concurrent Legislative List and for Related Matters (HB. 2060, Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to Provide for the Establishment of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federal Government.

Other are, “Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to Guarantee Indigene Status to Persons because of Birth or Continued Residence for a Period of Not Less than Ten Years or by Reason of Marriage and for Related Matters (HB. 2057), Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to include Citizenship by Investment as one of the classes of Citizenship in Nigeria, provide for the Acquisition of Nigerian Citizenship by Qualified Foreign Investors who meet Specified Investment Thresholds and for Related Matters (HB. 2059) and Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Review the Penalties for Certain Capital Offences in Alignment with Relevant International Best Practices and for Related Matters (HB. 2120).”

For tourism bill, according to its draft, it seeks alteration of the Second Schedule, part I, Item-60, by deleting paragraph (d) inserting a new item with respect to the regulation of tourism and tourism-related activities; development and promotion of tourism and tourism-related activities; regulation of tourism traffic; establishment of minimum standards for tourism and for the regulation of tourism and tourism-relatedactivities at all levels.

According to the explanatory memorandum of the Citizenship by Investment Bill, it proposes to change the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Cap C23 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 to incorporate a new class of citizenship known as Citizenship by Investment.

By providing Nigerian citizenship to anyone who engage in the Nigerian economy above a certain financial threshold or in important industries vital to the country's development, the proposed amendment seeks to attract foreign direct investment.

In order to bring the sentences for specific capital offenses into compliance with pertinent international best practices, the bill aims to amend the Federal Republic of Nigeria's Constitution.

The proposed change seeks to preserve public safety and effectively handle significant crimes while ensuring that Nigeria's criminal justice system follows international norms of justice, proportionality, and respect for human rights.