House of Representatives is considering a bill to strip the president of powers to issue proclamation for a new Assembly, and transfer the same to the clerk of the National Assembly.

The bill, which is sponsored by the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, is also seeking to strip the president of the powers to dissolve the National Assembly.

The proposed legislation, if passed into law, would also strip governors of the powers to issue proclamation for a new Assembly in their respective states, and vest the same powers on the clerks of the state Houses of Assembly.

The bill, whichh seeks to alter Sections 63(3) and 105 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), has already passed the first reading and is currently awaiting the second reading, during which the general principles shall be debated.

Section 63(3) stipulates that “subject to the provisions of the1999 Constitution, the person elected as the president shall have powers to issue a proclamation for holding of the first session of the National Assembly, his being sworn in, or for its dissolution, as provided in this section.”

Similarly, Section 105(3) states that “subject to the provisions of this constitution, the person elected as the governor of a state shall have powers to issue a proclamation for the holding of the first session of the state House of Assembly concerned, immediately after his being sworn in or for its dissolution as provided in this section.”

Nevertheless, the proposed legislation is seeking to alter Section 64 (3) of the Principal Act by replacing the phrase ‘the person elected as president’ with ‘the clerk of the National Assembly’ and also amend the last line of the paragraph as follows: “Subject to the provisions of this constitution, the clerk of the National Assembly shall have the powers to issue a proclamation for the holding of the first session of the National Assembly immediately after the president is sworn in, or for its dissolution in this section.

“Section 105 (3) of the Principal Act is amended by replacing the phrase ‘the person elected a governor’ with ‘the clerk of the House of Assembly’.

The bill, like In the case of the National Assembly, also seeks to empower the clerk of the respective state Houses of Assembly, “to issue a proclamation for the holding of the first session of the Assembly, immediately after the governor is sworn in, or for its dissolution in this section.” (Daily Sun)

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