National Assembly’s Annual Constitution Amendments Cost Nigeria N1 Billion

In a persistent pattern spanning 24 years, the National Assembly’s annual constitutional amendments have incurred a staggering cost of N1 billion, according to investigations by The Guardian. This cumulative expense has now reached N24.85 billion, with at least 30 alterations made to the 1999 Constitution.

The upcoming amendment focuses on critical issues such as State police, Value Added Tax (VAT), and electoral reforms, driven by the ongoing legal dispute between the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and state governments regarding VAT collection.

Despite the significant financial commitment, critics, including lawyers, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and statesmen, argue that these amendments have failed to achieve a comprehensive review. Contentious matters such as security architecture, state police creation, and resource control persist, leaving many demands unaddressed.

The past deputy president of the Senate, Victor Omo-Agege, attributed previous failures to governors allegedly hindering state Houses of Assembly from endorsing proposed alterations. This claim was supported by Senate President Ahmad Lawan and former Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, though state Houses of Assembly denied the allegations.

In response to the ongoing challenges, new constitution review committees led by Jibrin Barau and Benjamin Kalu will revisit unresolved issues, including the creation of state police, federal structure and power devolution, fiscal federalism, and revenue allocation.

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) emphasized the need for constitutional changes to address corruption, stating that existing impediments hinder anti-corruption efforts. Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) called on Nigerians to demand responsive leadership from the National Assembly.

While some past amendments, such as financial autonomy for the National Assembly, have been successful, the overall sentiment remains one of dissatisfaction. The upcoming review will grapple with various challenges, including separating the office of the Attorney General from the minister/commissioner for justice and addressing electoral offences. Despite past successes, the pressing need for a more comprehensive and impactful constitutional review persists.