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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