A proposed constitutional amendment is seeking to make leaders of the two chambers of the National Assembly statutory members of the National Security Council (NSC).
The proposal is one of the amendments now awaiting the votes of federal lawmakers from Tuesday.
Other proposed amendments include getting traditional rulers constitutional roles at national and state levels; inclusion of judges of the National Industrial Court (NIC) in the membership of election tribunals; and voting by Nigerians in the diaspora.
Bill 46 wants the NSC to include the Senate President and House of Representatives Speaker.
Current members of the NSC, according to Item 25, Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution, include the President as Chairman, Vice President (Deputy Chairman), Chief of Defence Staff, Inspector General of Police, National Security Adviser, among others.
The Third Schedule of the Constitution reads: “25. The National Security Council shall comprise the following members: (a) the President who shall be the Chairman; (b) the Vice-President who shall be the Deputy Chairman; (c) the Chief of Defence Staff; (d) the Minister of the Government of the Federation charged with the responsibility for internal affairs.
“(e) the Minister of the Government of the Federation charged with the responsibility for defence; (f) the Minister of the Government of the Federation charged with the responsibility for foreign affairs; (g) the National Security Adviser; (h) the Inspector-General of Police; and (i) such other persons as the President may in his discretion appoint.
However, bill number 46 states that “Item 25, Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Principal Act is altered by inserting after paragraph (b), new paragraphs “(ba)” and “(bb)” -“(ba) the President of the Senate; and (bb) the Speaker of the House of Representatives.”
Clarifying why the Presiding Officers of the legislature need to be part of the National Security Council, spokesman of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, said the Senate President and the Speaker of the House will always bring legislative perspective to the issue of National Security any time they meet.
