Twenty-five (25) Nigerian states have rejected the current constitution amendment exercise, citing the absence of state police as one of their major concerns.
The Chairman of, the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution and Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, who confirmed this on Tuesday, lamented that only 11 states have voted and complied with the constitutional amendment which started earlier this year.
Senator Omo-Agege stated this at a Joint Press Conference on the constitutional amendments and the latest developments within the National Assembly and the thirty-six state Houses of Assembly.
He described as “unreasonable” the position of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, which insists that state police must be a major part of the alteration Bills.
Also, on State Policing and other issues recommended for amendment, Nigeria Labour Congress President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, believes the Constitutional amendment process was transparent and fair.
The workers union and other stakeholders have urged the state Governors to demonstrate their patriotism by supporting the efforts of the ninth National Assembly to amend the constitution.
The national assembly Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution also confirmed that more than sixty-six (66) were recommended from the hearings and memos submitted by the public since the exercise commenced.
Dominica Nwabufo
