National Assembly can’t give new constitution, says Omo-agege

Deputy Senate president, Ovie OmoAgege, has said the National Assembly lacks the powers to give Nigerians a new constitution but can only amend same.

Omo-agege, who chairs the Senate ad hoc committee on constitution review, spoke when he received members of Alliance of Nigerian Patriots in Abuja. The delegation was led by Ambassador Umunna Orjiako.

Citing advanced democracies like the United States of America ( USA) where Nigeria’s presidential system of government was modelled after, he said the National Assembly was limited by sections 8 and 9 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Omo-agege, according to a statement by his special adviser, Yomi Odunuga, urged those calling for a new constitution to instead participate actively in the ongoing amendment of the constitution.

He said “One of the issues you raised is the replacement of the 1999 Constitution. I am not so sure that we as a parliament have the power to replace the constitution. We can only make amendments. And it is explicit in Sections 8 and 9 of the constitution on how we can do that and the requisite number of votes required.

“I say that because there are some top attorneys in this country, who for some reason, keep saying that we don’t even need any of this, that we should just bring a new constitution. We can’t do that.

“What we are mandated to do by law is to look at those provisions and bring them up-to-date with global best practices, especially to the extent that it tallies with the views of the majority of Nigerians. So we are not in a position to replace this Constitution but we can only amend.”

Omo- Agege said the country could not practise unicameral legislature considering its large population.

“One of the issues raised by the ENDSARS protesters was that we should abolish the Senate and merge us with the House of Representatives. We are not in a position to do that. Mr. President is not even in a position to do that as well.”