The House of Representatives at its plenary session of Tuesday, 16 March 2021, passed for second reading, a Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to give powers to the Senate, House of Representatives and the State Houses of Assembly to summon the President and State Governors to answer to issues of National Security.

Leading the debate on the Bill, Hon. Sergius Ogun (PDP: Edo State) explained to law makers that the Bill alters section 67 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) by inserting a new subsection 3 as follows:

“(3) Nothing in this section shall preclude any chamber of the National Assembly from summoning the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to attend a joint session of the National Assembly to answer questions on national security or any issue whatsoever, over which the National Assembly has powers to make laws”.

  The Bill further alters section 107 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) by inserting a new subsection 3 as follows:

“ (3) Nothing in this section shall preclude the House of Assembly of the State from summoning the Governor of a State to attend a sitting of the House of Assembly to answer questions on national security or any issue whatsoever, over which the House of Assembly has powers to make laws”.

According to Hon. Ogun, the issue of insecurity in Nigeria has raised concerns among citizens despite several efforts of the government to address the matter. The Bill if passed, will give the President and State Governors the opportunity to brief lawmakers and citizens on the “State of the Nation” on tackling criminality, banditry, kidnapping and murder of innocent citizens.

The Bill has been referred to the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution for further legislative action.