INSTITUTE CONSTITUTES 56-MEMBER COMMITTEE FOR 1999 CONSTITUTION

Foremost research institute, The National Think- Tank, stated that it has concluded arrangements to commence the review of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It has constituted a fifty six-member constitutional review committee to commence the review of the constitution, which has been described variously in certain quarters as flawed.

The national coordinator of the institute, Professor Steve Azaiki, told bayelsanews.blogspot.com in a chat in Yenagoa that the committee would critically examine all the provisions contained in the 1999 constitution, especially those that do not conform to Nigeria's contemporary needs and suggest new status as well as make recommendations towards fashioning a better constitution.

Membership of the review committee, he informed, was drawn to reflect the declaration of the first line of the 1999 constitution, "we the people of Nigeria do hereby make, enact and give ourselves the following constitution."

Azaiki, a former Secretary to Bayelsa State Government under the erstwhile administration of Governor Diepreye Alamieseigha, said the committee would be inaugurated on March 6, at the Kano Hall of the Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

According to him, the committee shall aim to produce a document that would provide the basis for good governance and sustainable development of the nation as a virile and united democracy.

He said the constitution review committee, made up of legal luminaries with expertise in constitutional law, including Senior Advocates of Nigeria and distinguished professionals from other fields, among others, would bring their experience to bear on the effort to give Nigerians an acceptable document.

Referential materials, the national coordinator said, would include all the materials and proposals that emanated from the 2005 National Political Reform Conference, Presidential Technical Committee on Review of the 1999 constitution, the National Assembly Joint Committee on Constitution Reform and the National Conference organized by the PRONACO.

He said the review exercise would involve the analysis of all materials of preceding constitutional review attempts, examine international experience in constitution drafting, canvass opinion and memoranda from civil society groups, government at all levels, political parties, organized private sector, Labour and the academia.

Azaiki said it was the intention of the Think-Tank to forward the report of the committee along with validated appendices to the Presidency, the National Assembly, governors, relevant government agencies, civil society organizations and the Nigerian public, among others, for a ratification process.