President Muhamadu Buhari of Nigeria has given his assent to the fifth amendment to the 1999 Constitution, which requires the President and Governors to submit a list of their nominees for Ministers and Commissioners to the legislature within 60 days of their inauguration. This bill, also known as the fifth alteration no. 23, received two-thirds approval from the State legislatures and was forwarded to the President by the National Assembly for his signature.
According to a statement from the House Committee on Constitution Review, President Buhari has signed the bill no. 23 and 15 other amendments into law. The bill amends the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to mandate that the President and Governors provide the names of their nominees for confirmation by the Senate or State House of Assembly within 60 days of taking office.
In addition to the bill no. 23, the other amendments signed by the President include those that provide financial autonomy to State Houses of Assembly and State Judiciary, and regulate the first session and inauguration of members-elect of the National and State Houses of Assembly. The exact date of signing was not disclosed in the statement.
Other bills are “the bill that seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to delete the reference to the provisions of the Criminal Code, Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Act, Criminal Procedure Code or Evidence Act;
“The Bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to exclude the period of intervening events in the computation of time for determining pre-election petitions, election petitions and appeals;
“The Bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for the post call qualification of the Secretary of the National Judicial Council; and for related matters.
“The Bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to delete the item “prisons” in the Exclusive Legislative List and redesignate it as “Correctional Services” in the Concurrent Legislative List;
“The Bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to move the item “railways” from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List;
“The Bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to allow States generate, transmit and distribute electricity in areas covered by the national grid;
“The Bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to require the President and Governors to submit the names of persons nominated as Ministers or Commissioners within sixty days of taking the oath of office for confirmation by the Senate or State House of Assembly;
“The Bill seeks alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to correct the error in the definition of the boundary of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; and
“The Bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to require the Government to direct its policy towards ensuring right to food and food security in Nigeria”
