President Goodluck Jonathan has rejected the amendments made
to the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly, The PUNCH has learnt.
A top government official, who pleaded anonymity, told our
correspondent on Tuesday that Jonathan vetoed the amendment on Monday.
The official said the decision of the President not to sign
the document was because the amendment did not meet the provisions of Section 9
(3) of the 1999 Constitution.
The source explained that with the return of the document by
the President, the letter accompanying it might be read on the floors of the
two chambers of the National Assembly any time from Wednesday (today).
He said, “The President has vetoed the constitution amendment
and he has sent it back to the National Assembly.
“The amendment did not meet the provision of Section 9 (3) of
the constitution which talks about the need for four fifth of the National
Assembly to agree with the amendment.”
Section 9 (3) of the Constitution reads:
“An Act of the National Assembly for the purpose of altering
the provisions of this section, section 8 or Chapter IV of this Constitution
shall not be passed by either House of the National Assembly unless the
proposal is approved by the votes of not less than four-fifths majority of all
the members of each House, and also approved by resolution of the House of
Assembly of not less than two-third of all states.”
The rejected amended constitution granted approval for the
separation of the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation from that of
Minister/Commissioner of Justice.
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