The Nigerian House of Representatives has rejected the Bill seeking to provide Special Seats for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly as 209 Lawmakers voted against the bill.
This was part of the consideration of report of the Special Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), where 68 Clauses of the Constitution were recommended for amendment.
The Bill proposed One Special Senate Seats and Two Seats of House of Representatives in all the 36 States and the Federal Capital Abuja. This will create additional 111 Seats in the National Assembly, thereby increasing the number of Senate from 109 to 146, while the House of Representatives will be increased by 74 to become 434.
The bill failed to scaled through after failing to meet the required 240 votes which means less than Two Third (2/3) of the number.
The House also rejected bill to provide 35% of Leadership position in Political Parties to women after failing to meet the 240 required votes as 195 Lawmakers voted in favour of the Bill.
Also a Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Expand the Scope of Citizenship by Registration has been rejected at the Green Chamber.
However, the House adopted financial autonomy for State Houses of Assembly and States Judiciary and the financial independence of local government councils as well as allowing States to operate Air Ports, Railway, generate transmits and distributes power among others,
But a bill seeking to include Value Added Tax on the Exclusive Legislative List was rejected, thus allowing States to collect VAT as well.
Though the House Chamber adopted and rejected some Clauses in the consideration, only those adopted by the two Chambers would make the list of provisions to be sent to the State Houses of assembly for adoption as well.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
