Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has disclosed that the fourth constitution amendment bill would be re-transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan withheld assent to the Bill after raising several concerns on some clauses, as well as the procedure through which decision on the proposed amendments were arrived at.
A statement by Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to the Speaker, Turaki Hassan, yesterday revealed Dogara made the disclosure when he received report of the 2015 elections European Union Observer Mission in Nigeria, from the Chief Observer, Mr. Santiago Fisas, in his office.
The Speaker was quoted as saying that the constitution alteration Bill was forwarded to former President Jonathan, but that was not assented to up to the end of the last assembly.
He added that the Bill was is still very much alive in the National Assembly as both chambers had provided savings for such legislation after amending their standing rules, and that they would not commence the exercise afresh.
“I wish to inform you that some of the recommendations by the mission such as independent candidature have received the support of the National Assembly,” he said.
He, however, expressed regrets that “it is one of the casualties of the non-signing of the bill by the former President.”
“I want to assure you that we will definitely revisit that amendment as it increases the democratic space and more citizen participation in the electoral Process.”
He said: “Nigeria is committed to the growing of a robust democracy that not only meets domestic aspirations but indeed that which stands the test of International best practices in a world that has been reduced into a global village.”
Earlier, in his remarks, Fisas, who was accompanied by the EU ambassador to Nigeria, said the report contained 30 recommendations aimed at helping “Nigeria does better in subsequent elections.”
“The recommendations were not merely invented, but are in direct response to challenges that were experienced on the field of voting,” he said, adding that the commitment of the Nigerian people to democracy had set a model for other African countries.