The National Assembly, Senators and members of the House of Representatives have proposed gauges that will strengthen existing constitutional provisions on overriding Presidential veto on bills.
They are seeking this power because of past experiences where Appropriation Bills were rejected by the President after passage by the NASS.
The lawmakers also proposed an amendment to the constitution to require the President and governors to present annual Appropriation Bills to the National and State Houses of Assembly at least three months before the end of the year.
The National Assembly is duty-bound by the new amendments being sought to the Constitution to pass the Appropriation Bills before the 31st of December every year.
This is contained in the recommendations of both the Senate and House of Representatives Adhoc Committees on Constitution Review, chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and Deputy Speaker, Rep. Ahmed Idris Wase, respectively.
The lawmakers are to vote on the 67 and 68 different recommendations in the Senate and House of Representatives respectively, between Tuesday, March 1 and Wednesday, March 2, 2022.
Each of the recommendations is expected to be approved by a two-thirds majority of elected members of parliament.
Section 59(4A) of the Constitution reads: “Where the President, within thirty days after the presentation of the bill to him, fails to signify his assent or where he withholds assent, then the bill shall again be presented to the National Assembly sitting at a joint meeting, and if passed by a two-thirds majority of members of both Houses at such joint meeting, the bill shall become law and the assent of the President shall not be required.
The new amendment to section 59 (4) of the Constitution reads: “Where the President, at the expiration of thirty days after the presentation of a Bill to him, fails to signify his assent or where he withholds his assent, then – (a) the President of the Senate shall, within seven days, convene a joint sitting of the National Assembly to reconsider the Bill; and (b) if approved by a two-thirds majority of members of both Houses at such joint sitting, the Bill shall become law and the assent of the President shall not be required or his veto shall be deemed overridden by the National Assembly”.
