We’ll ensure passage of independence of state legislatures – Conference of Speakers

The National Assembly on Tuesday transferred the Constitution (Fourth Alteration) Bill, 2014 to State Houses of Assembly.
This was as the Conference of the speakers of state Legislatures promised that the state houses of assembly will this time around endorse the independence of state legislatures.
The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Samuel Ikon, who received the bill from the Senate President, Senator David Mark, on behalf state houses of assemblies, applauded the federal lawmakers for the passage of independence of state legislatures in the country.
Speaking earlier, the Deputy President of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, in his speech said the Constitution (Fourth Alteration) Bill 2014, complied with the will of the Nigerian people.
Senator Ekweremadu made the assertion at a ceremony held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja to transmit the Bill to the State Houses of Assembly.
He said the amendments “set out institutional and legal reforms, which together with sufficient political will, may help to provide for constitutional and other legal guarantees for the practice of true federalism; provide for accountability and transparency in governance; and, create an independent judicial system that would ensure the proper administration of justice in Nigeria.”
He said the Legislative List was also reviewed for improved federalism, expressing the hope that “there will be a corresponding review of the revenue distribution formula to reflect the redistribution of our Legislative List”.
The Deputy President of the Senate reiterated that at no point did the National Assembly impose its will on Nigerians.
He emphasised: “The Bill we transmit to you today is an aggregation of the will of the Nigerian people. I must state, as I have invariably done throughout the review process, that at no point did the National Assembly have a predetermined position on any matter contained in the Bill. The Bill is a product of popular will, extensive consultations and collaboration with stakeholders, and exhaustive deliberations.”
Senator Ekweremadu, therefore, called on the state Houses of Assembly to expedite action on the Bill, with a view to passing it possibly by November 2014.
He added: “This Bill, being the product of people’s will, it behoves on you to do all within your individual and collective capacities to ensure its smooth passage in obeisance to popular will. As lawmakers, this ranks as one of the highest compliments we can pay the people.
“I believe you would hasten to play your part as we all seek to consolidate democratic gains and continue to nurture a vibrant democracy.
“Again, I must state, as I have invariably done throughout the review process, that at no point did the National Assembly have a predetermined position on any matter contained in the Bill. The Bill is a product of popular will, extensive consultations and collaboration with stakeholders, and exhaustive deliberations.
“I believe you would hasten to play your part as we all seek to consolidate democratic gains and continue to nurture a vibrant democracy.”
Receiving the Bill on behalf of the 36 States Houses of Assembly, Ikon promised that the Bill would receive accelerated and positive action.
Meanwhile, the Houses of Assembly are simply expected to vote “Yes” or “No” on each clause.
Each amendment requires approval by resolution of the Houses of Assembly of not less than two-thirds of all the states, which translates to 24 states, to scale through in accordance with the provisions of Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution.