THE HOUSE OF REPS YESTERDAY PASSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BIILS SOME OF THE BILLS ARE LISTED BELOW

The bills are:

1. A bill for General Elections to the Office of the President, State Governors, National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly and Local Government Area Councils shall be conducted simultaneously on the same date.

2. A bill for the Establishment of State Police and Local Government Police.

3. A bill to Establish the FCT House of Assembly.

4. Court of Appeal the Final Appeal Court in Governorship, National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petitions.

5. A bill to Provide for Compulsory Resignation of National and State Executive Members of Political Parties Seeking Elective Government Positions.

6. A bill to Provide for the Determination of All Appeals Arising from Election Petition Tribunals Prior to Swearing-in of President-Elect, Vice-President-Elect, Governor-Elect, Deputy Governor-Elect, Members-Elect of the National and State Assembles.

7. A bill to Vest the INEC with the Power to Conduct Local Government Area Council Elections.

8. A bill to Require the Official Resignation from Political Party before Defection by Members of the National Assembly and State House of Assembly.

9. A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to grant the National Assembly Power to Alter Timelines for Election Tribunals.

10. A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Cap. C23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Establish the National Local Government Electoral Commission as an Independent Body Responsible for Organising, Conducting, and Supervising Elections into the Offices of Chairmen and Councilors of all the Local Governments Across the Federation, Including the Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory, ensure the Credibility, Transparency, and Fairness of Local Government Elections and Promote Democratic Governance at the Grassroots Level.

11. A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to relieve the State Independent Electoral Commissions of the powers to conduct Local Government Council elections and bestow same on the Independent National Electoral Commission.

12. A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered) to Provide for Special Seats for the Physically Challenged Persons in Nigeria’s Federal, State and Local Government Areas, and Legislative Houses.

13. A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as (amended) to provide for Six Special Seats for Special Interest Groups in the House of Representatives.

14. A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Change the Name of the Auditor-General of the Federation to Auditor-General of the Federal Government.

15. A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to Remove the Restriction Placed on Power and Duties of the Auditor-General of the Federation and States by Sections 85(2) and 125(2) Respectively and to Insert New Sections in the Constitution that Shall Provide for the Financial Autonomy of the Offices of the Auditor-General of the Federation and of the States.

16. A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to strengthen the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation and the Auditor-General of a State.

17. A Bill to Establish and Empower the Political Parties Registration and Regulatory Commission to Register, Regulate, and Monitor the Organization and Operation of Political Parties.

18. A Bill to Expand the Number of Justices of the Supreme Court, enhance Service efficiency and timely dispensation of Justices, Improve Citizens’ Access to Justice and Conform with Federal Character Principles.